Indonesia escapes FIFA ban

"Indonesia avoids severe sanctions - banning participation in world football activities," PSSI President Erick Thohir told Republika newspaper on the evening of April 6 from France. "In other words, we only get yellow cards, instead of red cards."

According to the head of PSSI, negotiations with FIFA went well. Indonesia was thus only fined an administrative fine, in the form of suspending disbursements of funds from FIFA Forward - FIFA's fund that helps member federations develop football and facilities. According to Thohir, FIFA will consider continuing to spend these supports for Indonesia after reviewing the football development strategy provided by PSSI.

"This is a lesson and a blessing for Indonesian football," Thohir said. "In the short term, Indonesian football will still be able to play the 32nd SEA Games."

Mr. Thohir went to FIFA headquarters in Switzerland to meet directly with the president of this organization Gianni Infantino from April 3. The head of PSSI also tried to convince FIFA with a plan to transform football in the land of ten thousand islands. One of the commitments is to renovate 22 stadiums to be able to serve both national teams and clubs in the national championship. However, the request to replace Peru to host the 2023 U17 World Cup - something that many Indonesian fans have been waiting for - was not mentioned in the working program between Thohir and FIFA.

Indonesia is the host of the 2023 U20 World Cup and has completed the preparation process. However, the draw on March 31 in Bali was canceled due to political conflicts and the government of this famous tourist island did not allow Israeli representatives to enter. On March 29, FIFA issued a decision to strip the organization of the right to organize and threatened to severely punish Indonesia. Currently, FIFA has not decided on the country to replace Indonesia to host the U20 World Cup this year. Argentina is considered the most potential candidate.

According to the Center for Macroeconomics and Finance Indonesia, the country lost about 3,500 billion rupiah (about 5,500 billion VND) only from being stripped of the right to host the U20 World Cup. Domino effects can occur and damage will increase.