Indonesia sues AFC over canceled friendly match, naturalizes 2 new stars

President of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), Erick Thohir, said he had sent a report to the AFC requesting clarification on the Kuwait team's sudden cancellation of a friendly match in early September. At the same time, he confirmed that they had naturalized two new stars.

Kuwait team suddenly withdrew, Indonesia had no time to react

PSSI has officially announced that the Indonesian team will play two international friendly matches in the FIFA Days schedule in September, including against Kuwait on September 5 and Lebanon on September 8, both in Surabaya. This plan is said to have been finalized and PSSI has also started selling tickets to fans.

The Indonesian team is the only representative of Southeast Asian football competing for a ticket to the 2026 World Cup, when entering the fourth qualifying round of the Asian region.

Photo: Reuters

However, recently the Kuwait team suddenly announced that they withdrew from the match without giving a reason. This news shocked PSSI and left them unable to react, as finding another team to replace them at this time was not feasible.

"I don't know the exact reason why the Kuwait team withdrew from the match," PSSI President Erick Thohir stressed, adding that he had sent a letter of protest to the Kuwait Football Federation, as well as a report to the AFC (Asian football body).

"At first, we could have interpreted it in a negative way, that this was sabotage, especially since it was already difficult to participate in a friendly match. We promoted everything and got specific confirmation. But then, it seemed that the Kuwaiti team had also withdrawn from other tournaments.

Maybe they have some internal problems. I don't want to blame, but we have sent a strong letter of protest to the Kuwait Football Federation," Mr. Erick Thohir added, at the event to introduce the new Technical Director of PSSI, Mr. Alexander Zweis on August 25 in Jakarta.

Mr. Alexander Zweis will replace Mr. Indra Sjafri, who could become the coach of the Indonesian U.22 team at the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand in December.

According to CNN Indonesia, the cancellation of Kuwait's match will cause the archipelago nation to face many obstacles in preparing for the fourth qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup in Asia (playing in October).

Kuwait, along with the Lebanese team, are two opponents from the Middle East that PSSI sees as having many similarities in playing style with the two opponents that the Indonesian team will meet in October (Saudi Arabia and Iraq) to compete for tickets to the 2026 World Cup.

Therefore, PSSI will definitely have to quickly find a replacement opponent, otherwise, they will only have 1 training match left against the Lebanese team on September 8.

At the same time, Mr. Erick Thohir also confirmed that PSSI has accelerated the completion of naturalization procedures for two new star players of Dutch origin, Miliano Jonathans and Mauro Zijlstra, this week.

These are two talented players, only 20 and 21 years old, pursued by PSSI and tried every way to convince them to become Indonesian citizens, ignoring the opportunity to play for the youth teams and the Dutch national team.

"PSSI needs to complete the naturalization of these players before September, followed by the procedures for changing federations. They will be the additions to give the Indonesian team more options for the key matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in October, when top star striker Ole Romeny is absent due to injury. If all procedures are completed in time, Miliano Jonathans and Mauro Zijlstra can be tested by coach Kluivert in friendly matches this coming September," CNN Indonesia said.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/indonesia-doi-kien-afc-tran-giao-huu-bi-huy-nhap-tich-lien-2-ngoi-sao-moi-185250826105253981.htm