Marteen Paes has officially joined the Indonesian national football team. On August 18, 2024, one day after Indonesia's Independence Day, Marteen Paes officially became a citizen of the Republic of Indonesia and is now eligible to strengthen the Indonesian national football team. He has completed his naturalization process, and it has been confirmed that the entire federation transfer process has gone smoothly, permitting him to represent the Indonesian national football team.
Initially, the goalkeeper, who wears the number 30 jersey, faced some challenges in meeting the requirements to play for the Indonesian national team because FIFA initially rejected his transfer from the Royal Dutch Football Association to the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI).
Why was this the case? According to VNEXPRESS, under FIFA regulations, a player can only switch national teams if they were under 21 years old when they last played for their previous team in an official match. However, Paes played for the Netherlands in the European U-21 Championship qualifiers when he was already 22 years old.
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Despite this, the Indonesian Football Federation appealed the decision. On August 18, 2024, it was confirmed that Marteen Paes could play for the Indonesian national team after FIFA approved his naturalization, which was facilitated by the Indonesian Football Federation.
This news is a significant boost for Indonesian football, and it is hoped that Marteen Paes’s arrival will have a positive impact and strengthen the Indonesian national team in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Profile of Marteen Paes
Marteen Paes is a professional goalkeeper who currently plays for FC Dallas in the MLS First Division. He joined FC Dallas on July 7, 2022. The 26-year-old was born in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, on May 14, 1998.
Since joining FC Dallas in 2022, Marteen Paes has made 164 appearances. Before joining FC Dallas in 2022, the 192 cm tall goalkeeper played for FC Utrecht in the Dutch Eredivisie in 2018.
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Naturalization
Although Marteen Paes was born in the Netherlands, he has Indonesian heritage through his grandmother, who is Indonesian from his mother's side. This lineage allowed him to undergo naturalization to become an Indonesian citizen. On April 30, 2024, Marteen Paes officially became an Indonesian citizen.
After becoming a citizen of the Republic of Indonesia, Marteen Paes, along with the Indonesian Football Federation, immediately applied for his transfer from the Royal Dutch Football Association to the Indonesian Football Association. He encountered some difficulties during this transfer process due to FIFA's initial rejection, citing FIFA regulations.
However, the Indonesian Football Federation did not remain passive. They filed an appeal, which was ultimately accepted by FIFA, allowing Marteen Paes to join and strengthen the Indonesian national team.
With Marteen Paes joining the Indonesian national team under coach Shin Tae-Yong, it is hoped that he will have a positive influence and enhance the team's strength. Marteen Paes also has the potential to become the national team's first-choice goalkeeper, given his experience and quality. His inclusion in the team is also a tangible example of the Indonesian Football Federation’s efforts to seek out the best talent to build a brighter future for Indonesian football.
