Circulating Allegations Of Indonesian National Team Naturalization Players Having 2 Passports, PSSI Responds

The majority of the core players of the Indonesian national team are naturalized players (VOI/Ferry Tri Adi Sasono).

JAKARTA - PSSI through the Exco member, Arya Sinulingga, responded to allegations that the naturalized player of the Indonesian national team had two passports. He said the federation had confirmed that each naturalized player only had an Indonesian passport.

This statement was made by members of the Exco PSSI because recently there was an issue that naturalized players had two passports.

Furthermore, the news stated that naturalized players could leave the status of Indonesian citizens if the task of defending the Indonesian national team was completed.

According to Arya, the issue is unclear news. He regretted that these issues arose when the Indonesian national team was trying to boost achievements in the international football arena.

"We are confused, yes. When the Indonesian national team struggles and the results are good, bringing the name Merah Putih, everyone is united, the people support, it can be seen that the enthusiasm of the people is also great," said Arya Sinulingga in Jakarta in his official statement, Thursday, September 12, 2024.

"Because the Indonesian national team, the Red and White can fly, our sense of nationality is also great, there are people who try to deflate it like that."

"With issues that are sometimes unclear, how come something like that still happens," he said again.

Arya emphasized that the cast of diaspora when entering and leaving Indonesia used an Indonesian passport. Moreover, these naturalized players are children who have Indonesian blood from their parents or grandparents.

"What is certain is that the diaspora players have Indonesian blood. In fact, there are father or mother who are Indonesians, Maluku people, Manado, natives. How can they question their nationality?" he said.

"We have taken care of them according to our law. They get citizenship, then we also take them to FIFA to move federations from their home countries to Indonesian federations (PSSI)."

"Some asked about his passport. What is certain is that when he entered Indonesia, he used his passport from Indonesia, when he left Indonesia he also had an Indonesian passport," said Arya.

Currently, the Indonesian national team is indeed strengthened by many descendants who have just been naturalized. They succeeded in bringing the Garuda Squad to the Third Round of the 2026 Asian Zone World Cup Qualification.