Ahmad Dhani, a musician and member of the Indonesian Parliament, made a controversial statement during a parliamentary session regarding the naturalization of national football team players.
Dhani suggested that the government allocate a budget to naturalize senior football players from other countries and arrange marriages between them and Indonesian women, hoping to produce talented football players from their offspring.
Dr. Hastanti Widy Nugroho, a lecturer from the UGM Faculty of Philosophy (Philosophy UGM) specializing in feminism, responded to Dhani’s statement, pointing out several problematic aspects, including misunderstandings about the concept of naturalization and patriarchal thinking that discriminates against women.
According to Dr. Nugroho, Dhani’s remarks reflect a deeply patriarchal and discriminatory mindset.
“To make such a statement about marriage is misogynistic in feminist terms, showing contempt, prejudice, and hatred towards women. In this view, women are reduced to roles limited to household, childbearing, and sexual duties, or what we call reproductive functions. It’s absurd that even polygamy was brought up in a conversation about football,” she remarked on Friday, Mar. 7, 2025.
She expressed disappointment that such a proposal came from a legislator with significant influence in Indonesia.
As an academic currently teaching feminism, Dr. Nugroho voiced her concern over the mentality and quality of lawmakers who exhibit little understanding of women’s rights.
“If this is considered thinking ‘outside the box,’ the question is, which box are we talking about? It shows how dangerous patriarchy is in power. If individuals like him continue to serve in parliament and promote such patriarchal values, the future for Indonesian women looks bleak,” she said.
She also criticized Dhani’s comments on the skin color of naturalized football players, calling them racist. Additionally, she stated that Dhani failed to grasp the concept of nationalism.
Dr. Nugroho explained that naturalization is not a reproduction project in which foreigners are brought in to produce offspring.
When someone chooses a specific nationality, it should be based on love for their ancestral homeland or the place where they reside.
As someone who follows Indonesian football, she contrasted Dhani’s view with the experiences of naturalized football players.
She cited the example of Maarten Paes, who chose to become an Indonesian citizen and was moved to tears when the song Tanah Airku was played.
“It’s not just because his grandmother lived in Kediri, but also because he has nostalgic ties to the city. It goes beyond that; it reflects his deep love for the country. That’s the concept Ahmad Dhani seems to forget or fail to understand,” she explained.
Author: Philosophy UGM/Gloria
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang
Photograph: AFP