2023 U-20 World Cup: Controversy That Harms Indonesia

FIFA, the world football's regulatory body, has revoked Indonesia's status as the host for the 2023 U-20 World Cup which was supposed to be held in Indonesia. This decision was taken due to concerns about security and political issues if Israel attended the tournament in Indonesia.

This rejection caused controversy in the world of sport and has had a negative impact on Indonesia, especially economically. The 2023 U-20 World Cup should be an opportunity to promote Indonesian tourism and has been well prepared by the government. However, all these efforts were now in vain.

FIFA's decision has also affected Indonesia's image in the eyes of the international community. The controversy over the rejection of Israel has become a major focus of international media and has caused great damage to Indonesia's image as an open and friendly country. This controversy has also sparked reactions from various parties, including politicians and celebrities in Indonesia.

Several politicians from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) and activists such as Budiman Sudjatmiko believe that sport cannot be separated from politics, especially in a sensitive issue such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Meanwhile, the coach of the Indonesian national team, Shin Tae-Yong, chose not to get involved in this controversy. He emphasized that football is a sport and must be separated from politics. He hoped that FIFA's decision would not affect the preparation of the Indonesian national team for the upcoming tournament.

Celebrities in Indonesia, especially those scheduled to appear in events related to the U-20 World Cup, also suffered losses. Several Indonesian artists, such as Raisa, Ariel Noah, and Bunga Citra Lestari, expressed their disappointment with FIFA's decision.

It is undeniable, not only disappointed, many parties are annoyed with this decision, including the Indonesian people, especially football fans who have been waiting and preparing to host this big event. The Indonesian government and the Chairman of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), Erick Thohir, have made efforts to maintain Indonesia's status as the host, but failed and did not produce any results. A letter from President Joko Widodo asking FIFA to reconsider its decision also failed to pave the way for Indonesia.

The impact of revoking Indonesia's status as host for the 2023 U-20 World Cup is very significant. As well as missing the opportunity to showcase Indonesia's ability to host an international sporting event, Indonesia is also missing out on the potential economic benefits of hosting the event. Many sectors, such as tourism, hospitality, and food and beverage, are expected to benefit from this big event.

The revocation of host status also shows that Indonesia does not meet the requirements and standards set by FIFA as the organizer of the 2023 U-20 World Cup. This could affect Indonesia's image in the eyes of the international community and reduce the chances of hosting international sporting events in the future.

In addition, revocation of host status can also have a negative impact on the development of football in Indonesia, because this event can be a source of inspiration for the younger generation to be more actively involved in football. As a result, the revocation of host status for the 2023 U-20 World Cup could have a long-term negative impact on various aspects of Indonesia, not only economically but also socially and culturally.

The loss of the opportunity to introduce Indonesian culture to the international world, as well as the loss of enthusiasm and a sense of pride among the Indonesian people for failing to host the big event. The potential financial loss arising from the loss of economic benefits could also impact the social and economic well-being of the community where the match is supposed to be held.

In this case, the role of PSSI as the governing body for football in Indonesia is important. After Indonesia was dropped by FIFA as the host for the 2023 U-20 World Cup, PSSI's role has become even more important in maintaining the public and FIFA's trust in Indonesian football. As the national football governing body, PSSI and its general chairman Erick Thohir must take responsibility for the consequences of this decision and take steps to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.