Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Goalkeeper for FC Dallas in Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States Maarten Paes has officially become an Indonesian citizen after taking the oath at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights  office in Jakarta on Tuesday (30/4/2024). 

During the ceremony, he wore a black suit with a white shirt and a red tie, along with a traditional black cap, as reported by antaranews.com.

This move opens up a significant opportunity for Maarten to strengthen Indonesia's team in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, facing Iraq and the Philippines at home in June this year.

However, before the qualifiers, he must meet several requirements, including awaiting the outcome of a hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). 

Maarten had represented the Netherlands U-21 national team at the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship when he was 22, which conflicts with FIFA regulations.

If the case is settled the 1.92-meter-tall goalkeeper, whose grandmother was born in Pare, East Java, could join Indonesia's national football squad

(mg/inp/pr/nm)