Under-23 player regulation to be abolished in the Super League next season
Jakarta (ANTARA) - I.League Director of Competitions, Asep Saputra, stated that the mandatory rule requiring clubs to field under-23 players in the top tier Indonesian football league will be abolished for the next season.
This season, the regulation required each club to include at least one U-23 player in their starting lineup for a minimum of 45 minutes or one half of the game.
“There is a change in the U-23 regulation; there will no longer be an obligation to include them in the starting lineup for 45 minutes,” said Asep when met by reporters, including ANTARA, at the Garudayaksa Field, Bekasi, on Sunday, after the conclusion of the Elite Pro Academy (EPA) Super League U20 final.
When asked about the considerations behind this decision, including whether it was a request from the clubs, Asep explained, “In creating regulations, there is a phase of listening and a phase of discussion with those who have competence and also have an interest in it. It’s actually a process, and we presented it last time.”
According to Asep, only the U-23 regulation will be changed for the next season. The regulations regarding foreign players will remain unchanged, similar to this season, where clubs can register a maximum of 11 foreign players (although they are not required to register the full amount), with nine players eligible for the matchday squad, but only seven can play on the field in one game.
On the same occasion, he was also asked about the latest developments regarding additional football competitions next season, which PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir mentioned last month, stating that “We are also finalizing plans to launch a tournament that will run concurrently with the league.”
When responding to this, Asep acknowledged that they had already planned for this, but he could not provide further details. He said that they need “something that is truly measurable” to announce the competition calendar for next season.
“It’s not that we are confused; rather, we want to ensure synchronization between the Super League and the Championship. If there is a tournament that we will launch later, it also includes synchronization with AFC and ASEAN, and once again, this requires careful preparation. And at the right time, we will announce it,” he explained.