Each Liga 1 team can register 8 foreign players for a match out of the 11 registered for the season. Last season, teams could register 8 foreign players, with 6 allowed on the field at any one time.

Liga 1 CEO Ferry Paulus said the change was made at the request of the clubs. "The teams felt the old rules weren't working. We also want to be more competitive in Asia, hence the 11-foreign-player rule," Paulus told CNN Indonesia.

Brazilian forward David da Silva (left) celebrates Persib Bandung's equalizing goal against Persija Jakarta in the Indonesian Liga 1 2024-2025 season, at Patriot Stadium, Indonesia, 16/2/2025. Photo: *Persib*

Since the 2024-2025 season, three Asian Football Confederation (AFC) tournaments – the AFC Champions League (ACL) Elite, Two, and AFC Challenge – have removed limits on foreign players. This has given Southeast Asian teams a better chance to compete with East Asian teams, as seen with Thai club Buriram United reaching the ACL Elite quarterfinals for the first time.

Due to its lower ranking in the AFC, Indonesia only has one playoff spot for the ACL Two group stage and one direct entry to the AFC Challenge. Liga 1 organizers hope the new rule will boost club performance, leading to a higher ranking and more spots in top-tier tournaments.

The APPI acknowledges that increasing the number of foreign players could improve the league's quality, as foreign players can share their knowledge and experience with local players. However, the APPI is concerned that local players will have less playing time, hindering their development and ability to compete at higher levels.

An APPI survey revealed that many Liga 1 players oppose the new rule, contrary to club support. 198 local players are at risk of losing their jobs and having to play in lower leagues or amateur competitions. Indonesia's professional football system only consists of Liga 1, the first division, and lacks cup competitions.

While the APPI believes more foreign players could help improve local talent, it emphasizes the need for a fair and equitable football structure. The association suggests Liga 1 should focus on developing better infrastructure and a higher-quality football ecosystem.

Indonesian players during the national anthem before their 1-5 loss to Australia in the seventh round of Group C of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers - Asian zone, at Allianz Stadium, Sydney, Australia, 20/3/2025. Photo: *AP*

The national team is also expected to be negatively affected by this policy. "Coach Patrick Kluivert once said that players won't get a chance to play for the national team if they don't play for their clubs," APPI president Andritany Ardhiyasa said on the association's website. "Liga 1 seems to be contradicting Kluivert's principle by prioritizing league quality over national team performance."

Liga 1 is not the Southeast Asian league with the most foreign players. From the 2025-2026 season, the Malaysian Super League (MSL) allows each team to register 15 foreign players, with 9 allowed on the field per match. This means each team has two substitutes and uses 7 foreign players on the field, following the rule of 4 foreign players of any nationality, one Asian player, and two Southeast Asian players. Last season, the MSL allowed 9 foreign players per club, with 12 allowed for teams participating in the ACL Elite and Two.

The Thai League 1 2025-2026 allows each team to register 7 foreign players of any nationality, with no limit on Southeast Asian players.

Meanwhile, each V-League team next season can register 4 foreign players, with 7 allowed for teams participating in Asian and Southeast Asian tournaments, 4 of whom can be registered per match. The league is currently discussing whether to use all 4 foreign players in a match or 3 on the field with one substitute.

Trung Thu