Java and Bali governors kick own goal over soccer World Cup ban

FIFA has postpones Friday’s group stage draw, throwing the event into doubt amid rising opposition to Israel’s partici­pation.

Protesters in Jakarta last week demand their government ban Israel's team in the upcoming 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Picture: AFP

Football-mad Indonesia has scored a spectacular own goal weeks ahead of its scheduled hosting of the FIFA under-20 World Cup, with the international soccer federation postponing Friday’s group stage draw and throwing the event into doubt amid rising political opposition to Israel’s partici­pation.

The move has left the government scrambling to clarify its position with FIFA, and the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) conceding Indonesia may lose its right to host the event after the governors of Bali and Central Java said they would not allow the Israeli team to play in stadiums within their provinces.

“Right now we are thinking about how to prevent Indonesia, especially Indonesian football, from being isolated in a football ecosystem,” association spokesman Arya Mahendra Sinulingga said in Jakarta on Sunday.

“We know it is very difficult to separate politics and sport – even though we want to. We ask Indonesian football lovers, who want our football to progress, to stay calm. We will continue to try to find a solution … to talk to FIFA in the near future.”

Mr Sinulingga said PSSI chairman Erick Thohir, also the minister for state-owned enterprises, was working with the foreign and sports ministries to save the event “though we do not dare to say what the probability of success is”.

The cancellation has sparked howls of protest on social media from Indonesians criticising the politicisation of the event, and speculation that ­Argentina or Qatar could step in as emergency hosts – even as FIFA continued to run checks on Indonesia’s tournament readiness.

Akmal Marhali, who heads the watchdog Save Our Soccer, said the Indonesian government must act decisively to save the tournament and end political interference in sport. “Those who come to Indonesia are athletes, not the state government,” Mr Marhali told The Australian, adding Indonesia would never be trusted to host another World Cup or Olympics if it could not guarantee participation of one team at an under-20 age level.

Conservative groups are also angry, however, and argue that support for the Palestinian ­people is enshrined in Indonesia’s constitution and a duty of every Muslim.

Israel qualified for the Under-20 World Cup last June but it was only this month that Bali governor Wayan Koster, who will seek re-election next year, said the Israeli team would not be allowed to compete on the Hindu-majority island.

Last week, protesters marched through Jakarta to demand Israel be blocked from the 24-team tournament, which is scheduled to be held from May 20 to June 11 across six cities.

Just days later, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo – who is tipped to contest presidential elections next year – said the Israeli national team would not be welcome in his province either, citing his support for Palestinian independence in line with the long-standing policy of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) to which he and Mr Koster belong

Several political parties have also joined the pile-on amid a nationwide jostling for position ahead of Indonesia’s mammoth general and presidential elections next February.

Mr Koster refused on Monday to discuss the furore he had ignited – including the possibility Indonesia could be suspended for breaching conditions for hosting the tournament – insisting only “it’s not just my position, it’s also government’s position”.

Indonesia was suspended by FIFA in 2016 for almost a year for government interference.

Mr Sinulingga said it was only provincial governments administrations – not the Indonesian government – that had raised objections to hosting Israel. Indonesia had volunteered to host the tournament and “agreed to organise and take good care of all the participants”, he said. “When we said we couldn’t do this, we violated what we agreed with FIFA in the beginning. With this refusal, it’s only natural FIFA finally saw that this had to be cancelled.”