The truth is that Indonesia 'dislikes' the AFF Southeast Asian Cup 1, only cares about the AFC tournament

According to the President of the Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI), Mr. Erick Thohir, the fact that the AFF (Southeast Asian football body) did not agree to let two clubs from this country participate in the ASEAN Club Championship is 'okay'. Participating in the AFC (Asian) tournament is better.

Indonesia compares ASEAN Club Championship with AFC tournament

"What I heard is that AFF has decided not to accept the two clubs nominated by PSSI to participate in the 2025-2026 Southeast Asian Cup. Yes, that's okay," Mr. Erick Thohir told Indonesian media at Senayan City, Jakarta on July 4.

Vietnam's CAHN Club was the runner-up of the Southeast Asian Cup C1 last season, when there were 2 teams from Indonesia. In which, PSM Makassar Club reached the semi-finals.

Photo: Minh Hoang

Previously, PSSI nominated the 3rd and 4th ranked clubs in Liga 1 (Indonesian National Championship) for the 2024-2025 season, Malut United and Persebaya Surabaya, to participate in the tournament. The registration of these clubs was also on time, but AFF denied the right to participate of these teams. The Southeast Asian football body said that the tournament's regulations stipulate that only the champion and runner-up teams have the right to represent the Southeast Asian Cup 1, according to CNN Indonesia.

"Because this is AFF, the Southeast Asian Cup is a tournament introduced and organized by Sporting Five (a sports marketing company). I think with the strength of this tournament and the AFC, we have our own strengths. So we continue," Mr. Erick Thohir emphasized.

According to Mr. Erick Thohir, the fact that Indonesian clubs do not participate in the Southeast Asian Cup 1 does not mean that they are not ready to appear in the international arena, specifically in the AFF tournament in the region.

"In fact, we are very ready. We have 18 top clubs participating in Liga 1. If we look at the clubs participating in the ASEAN Champions League, Singapore only has 6 qualified clubs in the national league and other countries only have 12 to 14 clubs in their top league.

Obviously, the Indonesian National Championship has the most participating clubs, not to mention that in the First Division we have up to 20 clubs. Moreover, the peculiarity of Indonesia is that it is an archipelago of up to 17,000 islands. The travel distance of Indonesian teams in the Southeast Asian Cup C1 will be further than the remaining teams in the region. Therefore, we must have a reasonable solution for the teams," Mr. Erick Thohir expressed.

PSSI and the Liga 1 operator (PT Liga Indonesia Baru) have agreed to send the 3rd and 4th ranked clubs to participate in the Southeast Asian Cup 1, to help the champion team Persib Bandung have the best conditions to participate in the AFC Champions League 2 from the play-off round, and the runner-up team Dewa United participate in the AFC Challenge League from the group stage.

Therefore, after being rejected by AFF, PSSI also did not care about the Southeast Asian Cup 1, when focusing all their attention on their clubs in Asian tournaments, according to CNN Indonesia.

The 2025-2026 Southeast Asian Cup C1 held a group drawing ceremony on July 4 in Bangkok, Thailand, with group A including Buriram United, BG Pathum United (Thailand), Selangor (Malaysia), CAHN (V-League, Vietnam), Tampines Rovers (Singapore) and the winner of play-off 1.

Group B includes Bangkok United (Thailand), Johor Darul Ta'zim (Malaysia), Nam Dinh Club (reigning V-League champion, Vietnam), Lion City Sailors (Singapore), PKR Svay Rieng (Cambodia) and the winner of play-off match 2.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thuc-hu-indonesia-che-cup-c1-dong-nam-a-cua-aff-chi-quan-tam-giai-afc-185250705102028925.htm