Persija Faces Internal Turmoil Amid Salary Dispute

Persija Jakarta is currently dealing with internal issues following reports of unpaid player salaries, which may be affecting their on-field performance. The club has once again fallen out of the Liga 1 title race for the 2024-25 season, sitting in fourth place under head coach Carlos Pena.  
After 26 matches, Persija has collected 43 points, trailing third-placed Persebaya by five points. Their recent form has been inconsistent, with only one win in the last five games, along with three losses and a draw.
The team’s struggles continued in their latest match, where they suffered a 1-3 home defeat against Arema FC. The game saw further setbacks as two foreign players, Maciej Gajos and Gustavo Almeida, received red cards, ruling them out for the upcoming clash against Madura United on April 6, 2025.  
Amid this dip in performance, speculation about salary delays has emerged. Reports of unpaid wages gained traction after Brazilian striker Gustavo Almeida hinted at unresolved issues within the squad following their 2-0 victory over PSIS.  
Head coach Carlos Pena did not deny the situation, acknowledging the presence of internal challenges during a pre-match press conference before the Arema FC game at Stadion Patriot Candrabhaga on March 8, 2025. However, he refrained from elaborating, stating that his role as head coach does not involve handling such matters.  
With these off-field concerns looming, Persija faces a tough task in maintaining their competitive edge as the Liga 1 season progresses.