JABAR EKSPRES – Following the local protest over Israel’s participation on FIFA U-20 World Cup, other countries already offering themselves to host the competition.
PSSI made an announcement on Sunday that FIFA U-20 World Cup stage draw has been canceled due to Indonesian political party PDIP’s pretension against the State of Israel participation for the competition that originally will be held in Bali on 31st March.
One of the other reason FIFA cancelled the drawing for U-20 World Cup is because Bali governor, I Wayan Koster, wanted to deny access for Israeli athletes because his views on the Jewish state actions against the State of Palestine.
During the press meet at GBK Arena, Central Jakarta, Arya Sinulangga, Head of the Indonesian Football Federation, said ‘the drawing which should be held on 31st March in Bali is cancelled by FIFA’ on Sunday (26/3).
He also added ‘this is very understandable because there is declination from Bali governor who refused the arrival of the Israeli national team’.
The world football federation already confirmed to local committee of the World Cup U-20 2023 since there has not any official letters yet from FIFA about the drawing cancellation.
Arya also added ‘yesterday we already received information from FIFA in this case to LOC, and inside the announcement we haven’t received any official letters’. ‘But it has been clear we were given the message about drawing in Bali is officially cancelled by FIFA’, he concluded.
Although it has been said before by Palestinian Ambassador that they have no problem for Israel to compete on the U-20 World Cup. Because Indonesia acts as facilitator or as a host for the game.
PSSI leader, Erick Thohir, will take a flight to FIFA’s base in Zurich, Switzerland. His visit will act as a form of defusing the latest issue from Bali governor and to keep Indonesia as the host for U-20 World Cup 2023.
