“Do not link sports issues with political affairs,” he reportedly said. Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo appealed to the public in a televised address on Monday, reiterating Indonesia’s support for the Palestinians but also stressing the country must follow FIFA regulations, according to state news agency Antara. Indonesia, a Muslim majority nation of more than 270 million people, does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel and supports the cause of the Palestinians.Īnti-Israeli sentiment runs high among conservative Muslims in Indonesia and earlier this month, protesters marched in the capital Jakarta demanding the government ban Israel from playing in the tournament. Gaining the hosting rights to the U-20 World Cup had been a significant step for Indonesian soccer and losing the tournament threatens to damage the country’s reputation within the sport. The country is still reeling from one of the world’s deadliest stadium disasters, in which at least 135 people were killed and more than 300 others injured at the Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang, East Java, in October. Soccer is hugely popular in Indonesia, but violence and mismanagement have plagued its leagues for decades. ![]() The official draw for the tournament was scheduled to take place in Bali this week but was canceled. Indonesian court jails soccer officials for role in deadly stadium crushĬNN has reached out to the Bali governor for comment but has not received a response. More than 130 people died at the football stadium stampede in Indonesia on October 1. “The governor of Bali also stated in the letter that the provincial government of Bali refused (to allow) the Israeli team to compete in Bali,” he added. ![]() Wayan Koster, governor of the resort island of Bali, had sent a letter to Indonesia’s sports ministry requesting Israel be banned from competing in the province, Arya said. Israel have qualified for the first time.Īrya Sinulingga, a member of the PSSI executive committee, told CNN on Thursday that FIFA’s decision stemmed from the refusal by one regional Indonesian leader to host matches if Israel took part. The statement said sanctions against the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) were also possible.Ī total of 24 teams were scheduled to play in the youth tournament across six Indonesian cities from May 20 to June 11. “A new host will be announced as soon as possible, with the dates of the tournament currently remaining unchanged.” “FIFA has decided, due to the current circumstances, to remove Indonesia as the host of the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2023,” FIFA said in a statement, without providing further clarification. Soccer’s world governing body FIFA has stripped Indonesia of its right to host the Under-20 Men’s World Cup later this year after an Indonesian official objected to the participation of Israel.
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