Indonesia Gets 1 Slot In The 2023 Asian Champions League, But Enters Through The Eastern Regional Play-off Path

Illustration of Indonesian League 1 club, Persib Bandung (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - PSSI stated, there is one Indonesian club that can compete in the 2023 Asian Champions League. But it must start from the eastern regional playoff path.

This was stated by PSSI through its official social media, as quoted by Antara, Tuesday, January 11.

Thus, if we add the two clubs competing in the 2023 AFC Cup, a total of three Indonesian League 1 clubs have the right to represent the country in the Asian football competition.

As for the two clubs competing in the 2023 AFC Cup, one of them goes directly to the group stage while the other must go through the play-offs.

The three teams are the top three clubs in the final standings of the 2021-2022 Indonesian League 1. However, this position is not completely decisive because there is a rule that clubs participating in AFC competitions must have an AFC professional club license.

In 2021, only nine Indonesian League 1 clubs have received the license, namely Arema FC, Bali United, Bhayangkara FC, Borneo FC, Madura United, Persib, Persija, Persebaya and PSM.

In the Asian Champions League, Indonesia last placed its representative in the 2020 season, namely Bali United. However, Bali United did not make it to the group stage after losing in the second round of the preliminary round of the eastern region.

For the AFC Cup, Indonesia has regularly sent ambassadors since 2009, although they did not participate in 2017.

Most recently, Indonesia got two places in the 2022 AFC Cup which were filled by PSM and Bali United after the previous season the tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The best achievement of the Indonesian club in the AFC Cup is being a semifinalist which was recorded by Persipura in 2014.