Indonesian football is on the verge of a major overhaul. The Chairman of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), Erick Thohir, has announced plans for a radical transformation that will shake up the structure of domestic leagues. Beyond improving managerial and operational aspects managed by PT Liga Indonesia Baru (PT LIB), Thohir has proposed the creation of Liga 4 as a revolutionary step to advance Indonesian football.
Erick Thohir’s speech at the opening of the PSSI Ordinary Congress 2024 at the Shangri-La Hotel, Central Jakarta, on Monday, June 10, 2024, marked a pivotal moment for Indonesian football. The congress, attended by 31 provincial association (asprov) representatives, 15 representatives from Liga 1, 12 from Liga 2, 13 teams from Liga 3, and four from various associations, highlighted the urgent need for transformation. “The league must be able to transform. Something is wrong if our league is currently ranked 28th in Asia and 6th in Southeast Asia,” Thohir emphasized.
The Importance of Forming Liga 4

Thohir explained that forming Liga 4 is not just about increasing the number of competitions but also about creating better development pathways for young players. Liga 4 is expected to serve as a platform to discover top talents who will strengthen the national team in the future. “The presence of Liga 4 can be an option to find the best football talents in Indonesia. Currently, Indonesian football competitions are still lacking in quantity,” Thohir explained.
In addition to the formation of Liga 4, Thohir announced an increase in the foreign player quota to eight per club for Liga 1 in the 2024/2025 season. This move aims to enhance the quality of competition and enable Liga 1 clubs to compete at the Asian level. “The goal is for Liga 1 clubs to be able to compete in Asia, thus serving as an indicator of the rise in Indonesia’s competition ranking,” he added.
While this plan is ambitious, Thohir is aware of the challenges that its implementation will face. He called for support from all stakeholders in Indonesian football to make this transformation a success. “We have to move quickly like a high-speed train where passengers feel comfortable and safe until they reach their destination,” said Thohir, illustrating his grand vision for the future of Indonesian football.
VAR and Future Steps

Thohir also highlighted the use of VAR technology that has already been implemented in Liga 1 but stressed that many improvements are still needed. “We already have VAR, but we must make system improvements in the competition for this year,” he said. He believes that improving the quality of the competition will have a direct impact on the performance of the Indonesian national team and the experience of supporters in the stadiums.
The transformation proposed by Erick Thohir marks a new era for Indonesian football. With the formation of Liga 4 and the increase in the foreign player quota, PSSI hopes to create a more competitive and attractive league, capable of raising Indonesia’s football ranking in Asia. Support from all elements of Indonesian football will be crucial to the success of this major transformation.
Erick Thohir has laid the foundation for bold and visionary changes. Now, it is time for the entire Indonesian football community to unite, support, and work together for a brighter future for Indonesian football.