Thohir: Bloodline Naturalization is a Long-Term Policy

Former Inter Milan president and current chairman of the Indonesian Football Association, Erick Thohir, discussed Indonesia's football naturalization policy and grassroots football development in a recent interview.

Thohir stated, "Naturalization must continue, but grassroots football also needs to develop. Our league must produce excellent players. If there are players abroad with Indonesian heritage who wish to play for the Indonesian national team, we certainly welcome them."

"We are not doing naturalization for the sake of money. If it were all about money, I wouldn't be doing this. For me, faith in the national flag is very important. Only with this faith will come various rewards, including financial ones. I can't be certain how many more players can be naturalized; it depends on the talent pool."

"This is the reality of the world; suddenly, there could be a British player playing for the German national team. But in the end, we need a foundation, we need a league, and then comes the national team."

"If we look across Indonesia, the association will still focus on the national team, but our league is professionally managed, and grassroots football is also connected to the community. This is about how we, as a league, align the aspirations of all stakeholders into a single, large agenda. The Indonesian Football Association cannot develop Indonesian football alone; all parties need to join forces."