Dean James Dropped from Indonesia National Squad Ahead of FIFA Series

The Indonesian national football team has removed defender Dean James from its roster for the upcoming FIFA Series matches. This announcement came from the head of the National Team Board, Sumardji, who confirmed the change earlier this week.

Initially, James was included in a preliminary squad of 24 players, which had already been trimmed from an original pool of 41. As only 23 players could be officially registered for the final squad, the decision to exclude one player became necessary.

The reasoning behind James' omission was purely logistical, rather than performance-based. Sumardji explained that registering 24 players would leave one individual sidelined, which could negatively affect morale. The national team coach, John Herdman, was informed and involved in the decision.

James has recently been in the spotlight due to questions regarding his dual nationality. The defender, who currently plays for Go Ahead Eagles, was accused by NAC Breda of being ineligible for a Dutch league match because of his Indonesian citizenship. James had only officially become an Indonesian citizen in March 2025.

The situation regarding his eligibility continues to be reviewed by the Dutch football association, KNVB, as both the player and the clubs seek a resolution. Meanwhile, the Indonesian squad moves forward with the remaining registered players for the FIFA Series.