Indonesia dropped from hosting Under-20 soccer World Cup after Bali governor refuses to host Israeli team
Indonesian players and fans have been left dismayed after the country was dropped as host of the Under-20 soccer World Cup, following outrage among politicians in the predominantly Muslim nation about Israel's participation.
Soccer's world governing body FIFA stripped Indonesia of hosting rights over what one Indonesian official said was a failure to honour its commitments to the tournament.
FIFA made the call after Indonesia's football federation (PSSI) said it had cancelled the draw for the tournament because the governor of Bali refused to host Israel's team.
FIFA took the decision following a meeting between its president Gianni Infantino and PSSI chairman Erick Thohir.
One Indonesian national team player blamed politicians.
"We sacrificed our time, thoughts, sweat and even blood. But it suddenly failed due to your political reasons," striker Rabbani Tasnim Siddiq said on Instagram.
Another player, Hokky Caraka, said he had lost the chance to fulfil a "life goal to make my parents proud, scoring goals in the U-20 World Cup".
President Joko Widodo was "sad and disappointed" over FIFA's decision, but said it must be respected.
"Don't waste your energy blaming one another. As a big nation we have to look toward what's in front, not behind," he said, adding that he had instructed Mr Thohir to work on avoiding FIFA sanctions "including the chance to host other international events."
Mr Thohir told a news conference FIFA was considering sanctions, and the toughest measures they might bring in included barring Indonesia from competing at the highest level of the sport internationally.
"I am working hard to negotiate again with FIFA so that sanctions can be avoided," he said.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo did not want the country "ostracised" from global soccer and had ordered PSSI to transform the sport in the country after losing the hosting rights, Mr Thohir said.
Indonesia does not have formal ties with Israel and has long been a supporter of the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Protesters marched in Jakarta this month demanding Israel not be allowed to participate in the tournament.
The Speaker of Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly Hidayat Nur Wahid, was among those who rejected the involvement of Israel in the world cup tournament saying that "Israel is colonising Palestine and Indonesia is against all colonialism as stated in the constitution".
But Akmal Marhali, Indonesian sport expert and coordinator of the sport advocacy group Save Our Soccer, said he disagreed using the "colonialism of Israel" as an excuse to reject them in a sports match.
"The Israelis who would come are not the army, not the government, but the athletes and soccer players who have no interest in politics," Mr Marhali told the ABC.
Mr Marhali said it is possible for Indonesia to receive several sanctions from FIFA after being stripped from hosting the competition.
"We'll be frozen. If we're suspended, we couldn't take part in any events run by FIFA until it's lifted."
Apart from FIFA sanctions there are other consequences that the country has already seen, including the heartbreak of young Indonesian soccer players who will no longer be able to participate.
Mr Marhali said that Indonesia must put forward "eternal peace and social justice" for Israel in sports, despite the country's objections to Israel's policy in Occupied Palestine.
"Even though we are against their policy, Israel deserves justice."
The head of an Indonesian fans' association, Ignatius Indro, said PSSI and the government should ensure politics did not interfere in soccer.
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The loss of hosting rights was a national failure, he said.
The sport has a massive following in Indonesia despite the lack of international success since qualifying for the 1938 World Cup as the Dutch East Indies.
PSSI said losing hosting rights would harm the national side's chance of taking part in other FIFA tournaments.
The tournament is still scheduled to be held from May 20 to June 11 in a location yet to be announced.
The stripping of the hosting rights also means Indonesia loses its automatic berth in the tournament.
"We have buried the dreams of our own children," coach Nova Arianto said.
ABC/Reuters
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