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How Indonesia’s U-20 World Cup fiasco affects naturalized players
Indonesian soccer movers, among them naturalized players, and the public are devastated by FIFA’s decision to revoke Indonesia’s standing as U-20 World Cup host.
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This handout picture taken and released on March 30, 2023 by the Soccer Association of Indonesian (PSSI) shows members of Indonesia's Under-20 team and officials reacting after FIFA announced the cancellation of the Indonesia 2023 FIFA Under-20 World Cup soccer tournament, at a hotel in Jakarta. FIFA announced on March 29 it had removed Indonesia as hosts of this year's under-20 World Cup amid political turmoil over Israel's participation. (AFP/PSSI)
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ndonesian soccer movers, among them naturalized players, and the public are devastated by FIFA’s decision to revoke Indonesia’s standing as U-20 World Cup host after a political storm over Israel’s participation in the tournament.
“Following today’s meeting between FIFA President Gianni Infantino and President of the Soccer Association of Indonesia [PSSI] Erick Thohir, FIFA has decided, due to the current circumstances, to remove Indonesia as the host of the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2023,” said FIFA on its website www.fifa.com in the evening of Wednesday, March 29. “A new host will be announced as soon as possible, with the dates of the tournament currently remaining unchanged. Potential sanctions against the PSSI may also be decided at a later stage.”
Crushed hopes and heartbreak
Couched in bland bureaucratic speak, the statement broke millions of Indonesia's hearts, not least the country’s soccer aficionados. Among them are Akmal Marhali, coordinator of the Save Our Soccer NGO. Akmal directed his wrath at politicians of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle Party (PDI-P), as well as groups like the Muslim hardline 212 Alumni Movement, who spoke out against Israel’s participation in the U-20 World Cup.
“[Central Java governor] Ganjar Pranowo and [Bali governor] I Wayan Koster, should shoulder the blame for the U-20 World Cup fiasco. They should apologize and resign for their actions, or face class action lawsuit for letting down stakeholders for the U-20 World Cup, among them small and medium businesses, young Indonesian players in the U-20 squad, as well as 275 million Indonesians,” said Akmal to The Jakarta Post on March 30.
He also voiced concerns that government intervention with the PSSI torpedoed Indonesia’s hopes of hosting the tournament and jeopardized the country’s standing with FIFA.
