A member of House of Representatives Commission X overseeing youth and sports affairs look at the screen on March 5, 2025, during a meeting with Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Taufik Hidayat and Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) chair Erick Thohir at the Senayan legislative complex in Jakarta. The meeting was about the grant of Indonesian citizenship to three foreign soccer players so they can join the country’s senior men’s soccer team. (Antara/Dhemas Reviyanto)
T
he House of Representatives granted Indonesian citizenship to three foreign soccer players of Indonesian descent as the country’s senior men’s team draws closer to its next World Cup qualifier matches.
House Commission X overseeing education, culture, youth and sports approved a request filed by the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) for three players: goalkeeper Emil Audero from Italy and midfielder Joey Pelupessy and defender Dean James from the Netherlands.
The approval was made during a Commission X meeting with Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Taufik Hidayat and PSSI chair Erick Thohir on Wednesday. On the same day, Commission XIII overseeing human rights and immigration also approved the naturalization request.
During a House plenary session on Thursday, lawmakers approved the request, allowing President Prabowo Subianto to issue a presidential decree that would become the legal basis of granting Indonesian citizenship to the three players.
After Wednesday's meetings, Erick expressed his appreciation of the House’s swiftness in accommodating the national soccer team’s need shortly before its next match in the third stage of the 2026 World Cup Asian qualifier against Australia on March 20.
“We’re rushing the process because we’re close to the March 13 deadline to register [the squad list] to FIFA,” Erick said, as quoted by kompas.com, referring to the world soccer body.
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