(CNN) — World soccer’s governing body, FIFA, stripped Indonesia of its right to host the U-20 Men’s World Cup later this year after an Indonesian official objected to Israel’s participation.
“FIFA has decided, due to the current circumstances, to eliminate Indonesia as the host of the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup,” FIFA said in a statement, without providing further clarification. “A new host will be announced as soon as possible, and the tournament dates currently remain unchanged.”
The statement said that sanctions against the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) were also possible.
A total of 24 teams were scheduled to play in the youth tournament in six Indonesian cities from May 20 to June 11. Israel qualified for the tournament for the first time this year.
Protesters near the State Palace in Jakarta March 20 demand that the Indonesian government stop the Israeli soccer team from participating in the FIFA U-20 World Cup. (Credit: Eko Siswono Toyudho/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
Arya Sinulingga, a member of PSSI’s executive committee, told CNN on Thursday that FIFA’s decision was due to the refusal of an Indonesian regional leader to host matches if Israel participated.
Wayan Koster, governor of the resort island of Bali, sent a letter to the Indonesian sports ministry requesting that Israel be banned from competing in the province, Arya said.
“The governor of Bali also stated in the letter that the Bali provincial government refused (to allow) the Israeli team to compete in Bali,” it added.
CNN has reached out to Bali’s governor for comment but has not received a response.
The official draw for the tournament was scheduled to take place this week in Bali, but it was cancelled.
Soccer is hugely popular in Indonesia, but violence and mismanagement have plagued its leagues for decades. The country is still reeling from one of the world’s deadliest stadium disasters, in which at least 135 people died and more than 300 were injured at the Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang, East Java, in October.
Winning the hosting rights for the U-20 World Cup has been a significant step for Indonesian soccer and losing the tournament threatens to damage the country’s reputation within the sport.
“Very disappointed”
Indonesia, a Muslim-majority nation of more than 270 million people, has no formal diplomatic relations with Israel and supports the cause of the Palestinians.
Anti-Israeli sentiment is high among conservative Muslims in Indonesia and earlier this month, protesters marched in the capital Jakarta demanding that the government ban Israel from playing in the tournament.
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 that the country must follow FIFA rules, according to the state news agency. Between.
“Don’t link sports issues with political issues,” he was reported as saying.
PSSI President, Erick Thohirsaid he pleaded Indonesia’s case to FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Wednesday, including showing him a letter from the Indonesian president.
“I have done my best. We must accept FIFA’s decision to cancel the event we are both looking forward to,” Thohir said in the statement. “Because we are members and FIFA considers that the current situation cannot continue, we must submit.”
Thohir, the former owner and president of Italian giant Inter Milan, said Indonesia must show FIFA that it will “work harder to transform football (and) towards clean football and achievement.”
Arya, the Indonesian football association official, said the soccer community in the Southeast Asian country was “very disappointed” with the decision and officials were pressuring FIFA not to impose further sanctions.
“The worst sanction Indonesia can receive is the ban on the Indonesian national team from competing internationally and the non-recognition of the Indonesian football league,” he said.
FIFA said it will continue to work with Indonesia and the PSSI “in the process of transforming Indonesian football after the tragedy that occurred in October 2022,” referring to the East Java stadium disaster.
“A new meeting between the FIFA president and the PSSI president will be scheduled soon for further discussions,” the statement said.