For players, most of whom were already on a modest income, such a salary reduction means they now have to get by on a fraction of the legal minimum wage.
Miftahul Hamdi and Ugik Sugiyanto are two of the struggling players. Both are trying to earn some extra income, they told FIFPRO in a video.
Hamdi, who made his national team debut in 2017 and plays for first division team Persiraja, is now working in his father’s business and his wife is selling homemade cake to get by. “It’s not great, but I am still grateful there is income,” he said.
Sugiyanto, who is playing for second division team PSCS Cilacap, is selling ice made of young coconuts. “My regular salary was just enough to live, but now that has been cut to 25 percent. And recently I only received 10%,” he said
Sugiyanto, a member of the executive committee of Indonesian player union APPI, says there are many other players “in the same situation”. “Some of my teammates are selling satay.”
