Reason Why Dean James Was Dropped from Indonesia National Team Revealed, Not Performance-Related

A surprising decision has come from the Indonesian National Team squad ahead of this weekend's FIFA Series. Defender Go Ahead Eagles' Dean James has been confirmed absent from the final squad list for the matches.

This decision sparked speculation. However, the Head of the National Team Body (BTN), Sumardji, emphasized that the omission was entirely unrelated to performance or off-field issues, but due to regulations.

"So tonight, all of them (the National Team Players) are arriving. Regarding Dean James, we canceled him because, indeed, only 23 players can be registered," said Sumardji.

In the context of an official tournament like the Fifa Series, regulations are the primary factor. Out of a total of 24 players, only 23 names can make the final list. This means one player had to be cut, and that decision ultimately fell on James.

"So, we called up 24. Well, since only 23 can be registered, then one (player) we cut," he said.

This situation placed the coaching staff in a classic dilemma. Keep the player as a reserve without playing opportunities, or cut him to preserve psychological well-being. 

"Well, if only one person is left and told to sit in the stands, above, the Player's Mental state won't be good either," he explained.

The decision was also made with the knowledge of head coach John Herdman. Sumardji even claimed he provided direct input in the decision-making process.

"Yes, I also gave suggestions to John Herdman. Because we only called up 24 players. Well, if you call up 24 and register 23, it automatically leaves one person out. For that one person, I said it's better not to call him up at all," he stated.

Previously, James was part of the 24 players selected by PSSI after a long selection process from an initial list of 41 players. 

The 25-year-old defender was even considered a potential option for the backline of the Garuda Squad.

On another note, James's name is also under scrutiny in the Netherlands. Club NAC Breda questioned his status after a 0-6 loss to Go Ahead Eagles on March 15th.

NAC Breda suspected James held Dual Indonesian and Dutch citizenship. This citizenship status was deemed potentially in violation of European Union player rules. 

However, Go Ahead Eagles defended him, stating that when his contract was signed in January 2025, James was still a Dutch player, before officially becoming an Indonesian citizen (WNI) in March 2025.

This case is currently being handled by the KNVB (Royal Dutch Football Association) and is still in the process of finding a solution. (Antara)