Because of the 33rd SEA Games gold medal, Indonesian football stops all national championships: Priority given to U.21 players

After the Super League, the Championship and lower divisions will be suspended so that the U.22 Indonesia team can focus on participating in the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand, defending the gold medal in men's football, ILeague President Ferry Paulus confirmed on September 12.

Indonesia focuses all resources on the U.22 team to defend the gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games.

According to the President of ILeague (Indonesia's national championships), Mr. Ferry Paulus: "Stopping domestic tournaments to focus on the U.22 team participating in the 33rd SEA Games to defend the gold medal in men's football is a regulation required by the Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI).

Previously, the Super League (the highest level of Indonesian football) announced a temporary suspension of competition during the SEA Games. Now this regulation is also applied to lower-level tournaments including the Championship, and the third division, as well as other youth tournaments.

U.23 Indonesia just lost to U.23 Vietnam in the final match of U.23 Southeast Asia and was eliminated from the 2026 Asian Finals. Most of these players will attend the 33rd SEA Games.

Photo: Dong Nguyen Khang

The 33rd SEA Games will be held in Thailand in three provinces and cities including Bangkok, Chonburi and Songkhla from December 9 to 20. In particular, the men's and women's football events will take place earlier, expected from December 3 to 18.

The U.22 Indonesia team is the defending champion, after winning the gold medal in men's football at the 32nd SEA Games held in Cambodia in 2023 with a dramatic final match defeating the U.22 Thailand team 5-2 in extra time.

"In order to defend the gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games, PSSI regulations also require clubs in the Championship (first division) that just started (September 12), each team must register 5 players in the U.21 age group and let at least one U.21 player play in the starting lineup for at least 45 minutes. After the first half, this player can be replaced by a player of any age. This regulation is the same as in the Super League", Mr. Ferry Paulus emphasized.

The Indonesian National Championships require clubs to prioritize the use of U.21 players in all matches, to help them have the conditions to compete. From there, create resources to call up the U.22 team.

Besides, stopping domestic tournaments during the 33rd SEA Games is also to support the country's young players in their goal of successfully defending the gold medal in men's football.

At the 32nd SEA Games, coach Indra Sjafri was the one who led U.22 Indonesia to win the gold medal, but now he has been fired from all positions at PSSI.

Meanwhile, Dutch coach Gerald Vanenburg is leading the Indonesian U23 team, but after consecutive defeats including the final match of the Southeast Asian U23 tournament against the Vietnamese U23 team and being eliminated from the 2026 Asian U23 finals, he has been heavily criticized and faces the possibility of being fired. Therefore, there is news that PSSI is considering inviting coach Indra Sjafri back to lead the country's youth team to the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand to defend the gold medal.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/vi-hcv-sea-games-33-bong-da-indonesia-dung-moi-giai-vdqg-uu-tien-cau-thu-u21-185250913091251199.htm