Ong Kim Swee, the head coach of the Malaysian national football team, recently made headlines with his proposal to limit the number of foreign players in the BRI Liga 1 to just 11 per club. This move has sparked a debate among football fans and experts, with some arguing that it will benefit the wealthy clubs while others believe it will level the playing field.
Ong Kim Swee’s rationale for this proposal is to give more opportunities to local players to develop and showcase their talents. By limiting the number of foreign players, he believes that clubs will be forced to focus on developing local talent, which will ultimately benefit the national team.
One of the main arguments in favor of Ong Kim Swee’s proposal is that it will help to address the issue of over-reliance on foreign players in Indonesian football. Many clubs in the BRI Liga 1 have been criticized for fielding too many foreign players, which has led to a decrease in opportunities for local talent. By limiting the number of foreign players, clubs will be forced to give more playing time to Indonesian players, which will in turn help to improve the overall quality of football in the country.
Additionally, Ong Kim Swee’s proposal could also help to level the playing field in the BRI Liga 1. Wealthy clubs with big budgets often sign high-profile foreign players, giving them a significant advantage over smaller clubs with limited resources. By limiting the number of foreign players, these wealthy clubs will be forced to rely more on local talent, which could help to make the league more competitive.
However, there are also concerns that Ong Kim Swee’s proposal could benefit the wealthy clubs at the expense of smaller clubs. Wealthy clubs with bigger budgets may still be able to attract top foreign players, while smaller clubs may struggle to compete. This could widen the gap between the haves and have-nots in the BRI Liga 1, which could ultimately harm the overall competitiveness of the league.
Overall, Ong Kim Swee’s proposal to limit the number of foreign players in the BRI Liga 1 is a bold move that has the potential to benefit Indonesian football in the long run. By giving more opportunities to local players and leveling the playing field, the quality of football in the country could improve significantly. However, it will be important for the Indonesian Football Association to carefully consider the potential drawbacks of this proposal and ensure that it is implemented in a fair and equitable manner.
