Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) official Senior Superintendent Sumardji has officially stepped down as manager of Indonesia’s national football teams across all levels after the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand, where Indonesia failed to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2009.

“I will hand over my duties and responsibilities as national team manager to the PSSI chairman so the most suitable person can be appointed,” he said on Tuesday (16/12/2025), as quoted by antaranews.com.

The decision was announced during a press conference in Jakarta, following Indonesia’s early group-stage elimination at the biennial tournament. Sumardji, who served as team manager for the senior, youth, and SEA Games squads, said he would now focus fully on his role as Head of the National Team Agency (BTN).

He apologized to the public for falling short of expectations after Indonesia entered the tournament as defending champion. PSSI has yet to announce his successor, while internal evaluations continue to improve future performance.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)