Indonesia is afraid of being boycotted because it loses the right to host the U20 World Cup
On the evening of March 29, FIFA announced that Indonesia was stripped of the right to host the 2023 U20 World Cup, after a meeting between FIFA President Gianni Infantino and President of the Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI) Erick Thohir.
"We will announce the new host as soon as possible, and the tournament date remains unchanged," the announcement on the FIFA homepage added a paragraph. "We will probably introduce sanctions for Indonesia in the near future."
FIFA also said it remains committed to actively supporting and working closely with PSSI, as well as the government of President Widodo, during the transition after the Kanjuruhan disaster of October 2022. FIFA members will also continue to work in Indonesia to support the tools needed for PSSI.
Infantino and Thohir will continue to negotiate after their first meeting. Currently, Peru and Argentina are two candidates competing to host the tournament instead of Indonesia. These two teams did not qualify for the South American region, so they will have the opportunity to participate in the tournament.
Sharing with BolaSport, PSSI representative Arya Sinulingga said that Thohir and Infantino continued to dialogue, but it was difficult to change FIFA's stance. "They have the principle of equality, fairness, no discrimination, which we can't argue with," Sinulingga added.
PSSI representative also said that Indonesia does not care which country will host the award on their behalf. "Choosing Peru or Argentina is FIFA's business, but FIFA will take a long time to decide," Sinulingga said.
Instead, Indonesia fears the risk of punishment for losing the right to host the tournament. "PSSI is getting heavy reviews, and we're seen as incompetent to organize," he said. "We are in a situation where we are in danger of being ostracized by the world."
Indonesia won a place to host the U20 World Cup 2021 on October 24, 2019, but that period was canceled because of Covid-19. Indonesia kept the right to host the U20 World Cup 2023, until the recent tense developments in the country.
On June 25, 2022, Israel won a place to attend the 2023 U20 World Cup final according to UEFA's rate. Over the past few weeks, successive protests have appeared in Indonesia to boycott Israel. The draw for the finals group was also postponed due to conflicts. The people of this Muslim country do not want the Jewish nation Israel to participate in the tournament. Mr. Widodo had to say on March 28, that "Israel's participation in the tournament in Indonesia does not affect our relationship with Palestine. Football is not politics".
Mr. Thohir also flew to Switzerland to meet Infantino privately, but was unable to change FIFA's decision. Indonesia is at risk of a second international ban by FIFA in 2015 for allowing the government to interfere in football.
