In a video statement on Tuesday, the President said Israel’s participation in the event would in no way change Indonesia’s support for Palestine, adding that politics should be separate from soccer.

“I can assure you that Israel’s participation [would not change] our foreign policy stance toward Palestine, since our support for Palestine has always been solid and strong,” Jokowi said.

“But concerning the U-20 World Cup, [the government] agrees with the Palestinian ambassador to Indonesia, that FIFA has its rules, which its members must obey. So don’t mix up sports and politics,” Jokowi said.

He was referring to a statement made earlier this month by Palestinian envoy Zuhair Al Shun that Palestine had no qualms with Indonesia hosting the Israeli team for the U-20 event

The President also stressed it was “an honor” for Indonesia to be given the opportunity to host a sporting event on the scale of the U-20 World Cup and noted that when Indonesia joined the bidding for hosting rights in 2019, Israel had yet to qualify for a spot in the tournament.

Jokowi said he had sent PSSI head Erick Thohir to Zurich on behalf of the government to negotiate with FIFA to find a solution to the political impasse.

Non-starter

Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy said on Monday that Indonesia had outlined certain conditions regarding Israel’s participation in the tournament but that the demands had been rejected by FIFA, leading to the cancellation of the group-stage draw.

“We lament that the conditions we demanded were declined by FIFA,” Muhadjir said, as quoted by kompas.com.

Without specifying the demands, Muhadjir said they had been made out of consideration for the country’s 1945 Constitution, which states that the nation stands against any form of colonialism.

Calls to bar Israel from the U-20 World Cup out of support for the Palestinian cause gained traction after regional politicians from the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) threw their weight behind the idea, which had previously been promoted mostly by right-wing Muslim groups.

“We still hope for a change in attitude from FIFA, and we will try to accommodate the voices of resistance in the country,” he said.

Separately on Monday, Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD said the government was seeking to mediate between the camp that supported the Israel ban and the one that feared for the country's sporting future if the U-20 was canceled.

“We also want Indonesia to be in good standing on the international stage, and we see sports as one of the avenues to achieve that,” Mahfud told reporters without revealing details of the mediation plans.

Eager takers

Following the cancellation of the tournament draw in Bali, initially scheduled for Friday, a number of countries have lined up to take over hosting duties for the youth world cup, pending FIFA's decision.

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) is reportedly keen to replace Indonesia as host. Meanwhile, a former PSSI official claimed the association had received an official letter from FIFA notifying it that Peru, the host of the U-17 World Cup this year, would take over the U-20 event as well.

PSSI executive committee member Arya Sinulingga, however, dismissed the report, saying the association had not received any letter of the sort.

“We haven’t even received an official letter on [FIFA's decision to cancel] the tournament draw,” he told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

The uncertainty surrounding the draw has not stopped the local U-20 organizing committee from hosting 18 FIFA officials, including venue manager Christian Schmolzer, for inspections of six stadiums across the country intended to serve as venues for the tournament.

FIFA officials were in Bali on Monday to survey I Wayan Dipta Stadium. They also visited Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium in Surabaya, East Java, and Manahan Stadium in Surakarta, Central Java, over the last few days.

The officials in Indonesia have declined to speak about the fiasco, and so far FIFA has not issued any official statement.

While Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo’s backing of the Israel ban was among the factors that led to FIFA canceling the group stage draw, Surakarta Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka said on Tuesday that he was ready to pick up the slack from fellow PDI-P politicians who refused to host a sporting event involving Israel.

“[Surakarta] is ready and awaiting the order [to host the group stage draw]. Based on yesterday’s inspection, our venue is ready. All that is left is the directive from the PSSI chief and the youth and sports minister,” Gibran said on Tuesday, as quoted by tribunnews.com.

Gibran is the eldest son of Jokowi and has previously expressed hope that the country will be able to host FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games in the coming decades.

Tourism toll

Should FIFA decide to relocate the U-20 World Cup, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno said, Indonesia’s tourism sector would suffer a heavy blow.

“The FIFA U-20 is a world-class event that will be held in Indonesia. It is also a core pillar of sports tourism, which will bring in significant [numbers of] foreign and local tourists,” Sandiaga said on Monday.

According to the minister’s estimates, the government is eyeing 7.4 million unique visits from foreign tourists and 1.4 billion local holidaymakers throughout the year.

“I have told Erick that the tourism and creative economy sectors are really hoping that the World Cup will be held in Indonesia,” the minister said.

“[Otherwise], there will be negative impacts on our foreign and domestic tourism targets.”

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