After protests over Israel’s participation, FIFA withdrew the Under-20 World Cup from the host country weeks before it was scheduled to begin. On Thursday, Indonesian football players, fans, and commentators reacted angrily and dejectedly.
Two powerful governors who supported Israel’s exclusion from the tournament were responsible for the humiliating defeat.
As Indonesia is the most populous country in the world with a Muslim majority and Israel do not have official diplomatic ties, there is strong local resistance to hosting the Israeli squad.
Indonesia’s most popular sport is again back in the doldrums and will likely see further isolation as it recovers from a stadium stampede that claimed 135 lives last year as a result of FIFA’s decision to choose a new host.
FIFA was criticized by the Palestine Higher Council for Sport for its “double standards.” “said that Indonesians had been “punished” for exercising their right to democracy.
After being denied the opportunity to participate in what FIFA refers to as the “competition of tomorrow’s superstars,” several of the archipelago nation’s young football stars vented their rage and disappointment on social media “.
“We invested time, effort, sweat, and even blood, but in a split second failed due to political considerations. It is our grand hope that you have shattered “Rabbani Tasnim, a striker of 19, wrote.
After learning late on Wednesday that FIFA will look for a new host, players could be seen with their heads bent and their coach in tears in a video from the Indonesian Football Association.
“Not only us players, but all footballers are now impacted, “Hokky Caraka, an 18-year-old striker, stated.
After training the squad for the championship game of youth football for more than three years, head coach Shin Tae Yong claimed he was “heartbroken” and “weary.”
On Thursday, President Joko Widodo expressed his “disappointment and sadness.” “with the choice but insisted that Indonesia must adhere to it.
Don’t give up on your ambition,” said one of the floral boards for the players that appeared outside the Jakarta football association’s offices on Thursday morning “.
Indonesians flooded the Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo’s Instagram page with derogatory remarks after he rejected Israel’s involvement. Pranowo is one of the main contenders in next year’s presidential race.
A demonstration against Israel was organized in Jakarta last month by some 100 orthodox Muslim demonstrators, and Bali governor Wayan Koster also joined the chorus.
Koster mentioned “danger and security” and the occupation of Palestinian territory on Thursday “Concerning his proposal for a suspension, critics compared it to Russia’s exclusion from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as a result of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
“EXTREMELY PAINFUL”
In a statement, the Democratic Party of Struggle, Widodo and Koster’s strong nationalist governing party, expressed sadness over the choice but claimed that it had attempted to have Israel play its games in “the closest neighboring country.” “.
The competition, which the nation was awarded in 2019, was well-liked and was seen as a source of pride by many.
Despite its pro-Palestinian position, Jakarta promised to secure Israel’s participation, but FIFA couldn’t hear the protests above the noise.
“The Indonesian people are actually suffering greatly from this catastrophe. We must hold responsible those who created noise and caused us to fail “said football skeptic Akmal Marhali of Save Our Soccer.
Officials from Indonesia said that if they lost the competition, it may cost them hundreds of millions of dollars.
FIFA, which was banned for a year in 2015 due to influence from the government, promised more fines and vowed to exclude Indonesia from the 2026 World Cup qualifiers starting in October.
The loss of Indonesia’s first-ever major football event, though, wounded the most for the country’s ardent supporters.
“I am quite sad because I had hoped to see Indonesia host a major football tournament, “said Jarnawi, a 40-year-old enthusiast who goes by one name like many Indonesians.
The game has long been plagued by unstable infrastructure and fan violence throughout the nation.
But finally, the tournament that many had long yearned for was lost because of the conflict between politics and athletics.
“We’re referring about young people who wish to play soccer. They are no longer interested in anything “commentator Justin Lhaksana.
“Why is this matter being carelessly thrown into political games?”