Indonesian National Football Squad Call-Ups Revives Row With Clubs

Indonesian clubs’ second-class status seems all but confirmed.

Football authorities refused to budge from their plan to sequester Indonesia’s internationals after the National Team Body (BTN) announced the squad list for its seven-week training camp on Wednesday.

Players called up to the camp, which opens on Sept. 25 in Bali, will not be allowed to play for their clubs until after 2011 Asian Cup qualifiers against Kuwait on Nov. 14 and 18. The new Indonesian Super League season is scheduled to begin on Oct. 4 or 11.

Sriwijaya FC was the hardest hit by the call-ups. The two-time defending Copa Indonesia champion stands to lose six players for the first quarter of the season, a fact which left coach Rahmad Darmawan none too happy.

“As far as I know, there’s an article in the PSSI regulations that states clubs have the right to propose match postponements if more than two players get national call-ups,” Rahmad said on Wednesday.

“The BTN should hold the camp in the off-season until October. When the league starts, players go back to their clubs, and they will gather again a few days prior to the match.”

According to rules set by world football governing body FIFA, players can join their national team as late as four days prior to a FIFA-sanctioned match.

Sriwijaya goalkeeper Ferry Rotinsulu, defenders Charis Yulianto, Isnan Ali and Muhammad Nasuha, and midfielders Ponaryo Astaman and Arif Suyono were included in coach Benny Dollo’s 25-player list.

Even more concerning for the clubs is the possibility of the BTN extending the camp until January should Indonesia improve its chances of qualifying for the Asian Cup.

Such a move would rule out the league’s top players for the first half of the season.

Rahmad was not alone in his opinion, with Super League champion Persipura Jayapura echoing those concerns. The Black Pearls stand to lose defender Ricardo Salampessy, midfielder Ian Louis Kabes and striker Boaz Solossa.

Persipura assistant manager Anton Imbenay said the club was reluctant to release its players for an extended training camp.

“Please think logically. Who pays the players? This decision puts the players in a difficult situation,” Anton said. “If they have to join a camp and can’t play for their club, will the PSSI give compensation to the club?”

Anton suggested the Indonesian Football Asssociation (PSSI) consider rearranging the Super League schedule, but Indonesian League Body (BLI) CEO Joko Driyono said that was not an option.

“We want a well organized schedule, and we want the league to end on time,” Joko said on Wednesday. “The league has to finish before the 2010 World Cup starts, so we can’t accommodate any more schedule changes.”

Joko also restated the BLI’s intention to prevent players who receive call-ups from turning out for their clubs. All players must be verified by the BLI before they can compete in Indonesia.

“We believe this is the best policy for the country’s sake,” BTN chief Rahim Soekasah said.


National team squad:

Goalkeeper: Dian Agus Prasetyo (Pelita Jaya), Markus Harison (no club), Ferry Rotinsulu (Sriwijaya FC)

Defender: Charis Yulianto (Sriwijaya), Ricardo Salampessy (Persipura Jayapura), Maman Abdurrahman (Persib Bandung), Djayusman Triasdi (PSM Makassar), Rachmat Latief (PSM), Muhammad Ridwan (Pelita), Ismed Sofyan (Persija Jakarta), Isnan Ali (Sriwijaya), Muhammad Nasuha (Sriwijaya), Nova Arianto (Persib)

Midfielder: Firman Utina (Pelita), Ponaryo Astaman (Sriwijaya), Muhammad Ilham (Persija), Arif Suyono (Sriwijaya), Ian Louis Kabes (Persipura), Syamsul Bachri (PSM), Hariono (Persib), Eka Ramdani (Persib)

Striker: Talaohu Abdul Mushafry (Persiba Balikpapan), Saktiawan Sinaga (Persik Kediri), Boaz Solossa (Persipura), Bambang Pamungkas (Persija)