"We support the independence of the Palestinian people and reject the occupation." What happens after Indonesia is stripped of hosting the Youth World Cup?

JAKARTA – Indonesian President Joko Widodo says it is a matter of principle for Indonesia emanating from the constitution to continue to support the independence of the Palestinian people and reject all forms of occupation, after his country was stripped of hosting the U-20 World Cup scheduled for May 20 to June 11, 2023, after it refused to participate in the Israeli national team.

Joko pointed out that when Indonesia was chosen to host this tournament, ahead of Brazil and Peru - which he considered a tribute to his country - his country was not aware of the qualification of the Israeli team, and stressed that Israel's participation has nothing to do with the stability and strength of Indonesia's position towards Palestine, its support and foreign policy.

He added that FIFA is the one that supervises this competition and has its own regulations that its members must abide by, calling for not to confuse politics with sports, and said that FIFA is now aware of the positions of rejection of Israel's participation.

FIFA had stripped Indonesia of the Youth World Cup, which was to be held in 6 Indonesian provinces, justifying the decision with "the current situation", following a meeting held by FIFA President Gianni Infantino with the new president of the Indonesian Football Association Irid Tahir, who is also a minister in the government of President Widodo.

The statement hinted at the possibility of imposing sanctions on the Indonesian Football Association, however, the statement adds, FIFA affirms its support for the Indonesian Federation and its continued cooperation under the support of President Widodo, in order to make development efforts in Indonesian football successful after the Malang stadium tragedy last October.

Indonesia was hit by one of the worst stadium disasters in football history that left 135 people dead in a stampede in the eastern Java city of Malang last October, including more than 40 children.

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A wave of political and popular rejection

FIFA's decision comes after Indonesian politicians, led by the governors of Bali and Central Java, and politicians in the opposition Justice and Welfare Party and the ruling Struggle for Democracy Party, rejected their refusal to attend the Israeli team and participate in the matches, and the Indonesian government was rejected by large community and religious organizations such as the Muhammadiyah Society and the Indonesian Ulema Council.

Indonesia has seen stormy protests against Israel's participation in the tournament, although the government has chosen the Hindu-majority island of Bali, which is more open to foreign tourists, as the Israeli team's residence in the competitions.

The government, represented by Acting Sports Minister Muhajir Effendi and Federation President Eric Tahir, has struggled not to withdraw the hosting from Indonesia, but the refusal of local politicians in the provinces and provinces to allow the Israeli team to enter their areas has worsened the local political situation.

Commenting on the decision, Arya Sinolinga, a member of the Indonesian Football Association's executive committee, said his association was seeking to avoid any sanctions imposed on it by FIFA after the cancellation of the hosting, as Indonesia remains looking to host other regional and global sporting events in the coming years.

Some Indonesian media commented that it was interesting that the FIFA statement did not mention the controversy of refusing to attend the Israeli team, but rather referred to the tragedy of the Kangurohan Stadium in Malang province.

For his part, Eric Tahir, president of the Indonesian Federation, after meeting with the FIFA president and his decision, called on the Indonesian community to take the lesson from what happened and "remain strong with our heads held high," saying that we must react to this decision already in order to achieve change in the field of Indonesian football.

Tahir said he tried to convince the FIFA president of everything he could, sending him a letter from the Indonesian president, but his effort was unsuccessful, adding that the Indonesian federation must accept the decision of the international federation.