February 21, 2026 | 01:29 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) has filed a protest against the decision preventing the Indonesia U-23 national team from competing in the football event at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. The young Garuda squad is unable to participate due to a sudden shift in participant regulations.
KOI Chairperson Raja Sapta Oktohari stated that they have formally expressed their objection to the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) regarding this ruling. "Yes, we have definitely protested to the OCA," Oktohari told reporters following a meeting with the Minister of Youth and Sports in Jakarta on Friday, February 20, 2026.
The regulation change stems from a new agreement between the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the OCA, which limits the men’s football event to just 16 teams based on their standings in the 2026 U-23 Asian Cup. Oktohari views this ranking mechanism, which bypasses traditional qualification, as unusual, noting that the tournament was previously open to all participating nations.
He also highlighted a critical lack of socialization regarding the policy, which is seen as detrimental to Indonesia. According to him, any rule changes should have been communicated transparently to all stakeholders. "Whether this policy is due to Nagoya's inability as the host is another matter, but the socialization must reach everyone and must be fair," Oktohari said.
He confirmed that KOI has communicated this objection directly to OCA President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah. Oktohari expressed hope that this protest might influence the final decision. "Certainly, the host must not act arbitrarily," he added.
Oktohari asserts that KOI will continue to advocate on this issue, given that football maintains the largest fan base and every decision must be weighed carefully.
In addition to the men's team, the Indonesian women's national team is also confirmed to be absent from the 2026 Asian Games. Under the AFC and OCA agreement, only 12 teams will qualify for the women’s football event based on the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup in Australia.
Read: Indonesia Denies Meddling in Malaysia Football Sanctions by FIFA
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