JAKARTA: Indonesian football players, fans and pundits reacted with anger and sadness on Thursday after the country was dropped as host of the Under-20 World Cup following outrage among politicians in the predominantly Muslim nation about Israel’s participation.
Football;s world governing body FIFA stripped Indonesia of hosting rights on Wednesday over what an 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.
Indonesia and Israel do not have formal diplomatic relations, and support for the Palestinian cause in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation runs high. Protesters marched in Jakarta this month demanding Israel not be allowed to participate in the tournament.
FIFA took the decision following a meeting between its President Gianni Infantino and PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir, putting the country’s most popular sport back in the doldrums and facing another bout of isolation as it recovers from a stadium stampede that killed 135 people last year.
Some of the archipelago nation’s football prodigies took to social media with fury and heartbreak after losing the chance to play in what FIFA bills as the “tournament of tomorrow’s superstars”.
“Energy, time, sweat, and even blood we have put in, but in a moment failed because of political reasons. Here’s our big dream that you’ve destroyed,” wrote 19-year-old striker Rabbani Tasnim.
An Indonesian football association video showed players with heads bowed and their coach in tears after receiving the news late on Wednesday that FIFA would seek a new host.
“We, the players, are now affected, not just us but all footballers,” said 18-year-old striker Hokky Caraka.
Head coach Shin Tae Yong said he was “heartbroken” and “tired” after preparing the team for more than three years for the youth football showpiece.
President Joko Widodo said Thursday he was “disappointed and saddened” by the decision but said Indonesia had to respect it.
“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 on Thursday, adding he had instructed Thohir to work on avoiding FIFA sanctions “including the chance to host other international events.”
On Thursday morning, flower boards for the players popped up outside the football association headquarters in central Jakarta, including one that read “do not give up on your dream”.
The head of an Indonesian fans’ association, Ignatius Indro, said PSSI and the
government should ensure politics did not interfere in football.
The loss of hosting rights was a national failure, he said.
Indonesians inundated the Instagram page of Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo — one of the leading candidates in next year’s presidential election — with negative comments after he opposed Israel’s participation.
Bali governor Wayan Koster had also joined the anti-Israel chorus. Koster on Thursday cited the occupation of Palestinian lands and “threat and security” concerns for rejecting Israel’s participation, comparing his call for a ban to Russia’s exile from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Democratic Party of Struggle, the powerful nationalist ruling party of Widodo and Koster, in a statement expressed regret about the decision but said it had sought for Israel to play its games in “the nearest neighbouring country”.
There was popular support for the tournament — which the country was handed in 2019 — with many viewing it as a source of national pride.
Jakarta pledged to guarantee Israel’s participation despite its pro-Palestinian stance, but opposing voices became too loud for FIFA.
“This is truly a very painful incident for the Indonesian people. Those who made the noise and made us fail... must be held accountable,” said Akmal Marhali, an expert at football watchdog Save Our Soccer.
Indonesian officials said losing the tournament could cost the country hundreds of millions of dollars.
FIFA threatened further sanctions and could exclude Indonesia from 2026 World Cup qualifiers that begin in October. It was banned for a year in 2015 over government interference.
But for Indonesia’s fervent fans, it was the loss of their first ever major football tournament that hurt the most.
“I am very disappointed because it has been my dream to watch Indonesia hosting a global football event,” said 40-year-old supporter Jarnawi, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.
The game in the country has long been dogged by shaky infrastructure and fan violence. But it was the clash of politics and sport that ultimately cost it the tournament many had long hoped for.
“We are talking about youths who want to play soccer. They do not have any more interests,” said pundit Justin Lhaksana. “Why is this issue blindly mixed with political games?”
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.
Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2023