Sports Spirits Are Brotherhood, Let Israel Come For The U-20 World Cup

Bali Governor I Wayan Koster forbade the Israeli national team to compete at the Captain I Wayan Dipta Stadium, Gianyar in the U-20 World Cup. (Between/Fikri Yusuf)

JAKARTA The attitude of the Governor of Bali I Wayan Koster and the Governor of Central Java Ganjar Pranowo who refused to compete in Bali and Central Java in the U-20 World Cup, according to political observer at the University of Muhammadiyah Malang Hutri Agustino, was very surprising.

As cadres of the ruling party, instead of the success of organizing the 2023 U-20 World Cup, both of them actually banned the Israeli national team from competing at the Captain I Wayan Dipta Stadium, Gianyar and Manahan Stadium, Surakarta.

"So, it's a bit funny. The cadres of the ruling party who previously said they were ready to support or who should support the government, this time they took different positions. Yes, it's okay, but the question is why is it only speaking now? " Hutri told VOI on March 27, 2023.

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When Israel passed the qualifying round in June 2022 or at least when FIFA President Gianni Infantino came to meet President Joko Widodo in October 2022 no one had spoken out about Israel's presence as a contestant for the U-20 World Cup.

Wayan Koster in a meeting with Menpora Zainudin Amali in January 2023 also stated that he was ready to fully support the implementation of the U-20 World Cup.

"Now it's my turn the atmosphere is starting to heat up," said Hutri.

Meanwhile, Ganjar reasoned that he refused Israel because of his attitude of support and commitment for Palestinian independence. The ticket that the first President of the Republic of Indonesia, Soekarno (Bung Karno) has fought for.

"We already know how Bung Karno's commitment to Palestine, both voiced at the Asia Africa Conference, Non-Aligned Movement, as well as in the Conference of the New Emerging Forces. So yes, we will follow his mandate," said Ganjar in a written statement on March 23, 2023.

Bung Karno had indeed shown firmness when he refused the match against Israel in the 1958 World Cup Qualifiers. Also, refusing to give visas to Israeli representatives when Indonesia hosted the 1962 Asian Games IV.

Even so, according to Hutri, "Don't let Bung Karno's political consistency in the international arena, especially only be taken lightly. In this context, it seems that Bung Karno's teachings continue, but on other issues then ignore Bung Karno's teachings. Don't be like that."

So, said Hutri, whether acknowledged or not, the public certainly thinks that the rejection is only a political step for electoral purposes, for the benefit of electability, popularity, to boost the PDI-P's political vote next year.

The U-20 World Cup seems to be a moment for the PDI-P to get closer to groups that have been opposing, especially Islamic groups that continue to oppose Israel's presence in Indonesia.

The current context of football has finally shifted to a political context. In fact, with Israel's participation in the U-20 World Cup, Indonesia's view of support for Palestine has not changed. Football can actually become a unifying medium, a high level of diplomacy media. This is the momentum of how to build dialogue with Israel," he added.

Currently, PSSI is lobbying a number of institutions to find solutions to overcome the rejection of Israel in the 2023 U-20 World Cup. PSSI, said PSSI Executive Committee (Exco) member Arya Sinulingga, does not have the authority to reject the U-20 World Cup contestants which have been approved by FIFA even as the host.

If the public really refuses, the continuity of Indonesian football will be threatened. FIFA will most likely impose sanctions and will not recognize all Indonesian football matches, both at the domestic and international levels.

"So that later the competition will be no different from the amateur matches between villages," Arya said in his statement on March 24, 2023.

Moreover, Israeli athletes have actually participated in several sports championships held in Indonesia. For example, in the 2015 BWF badminton tournament at Istora Senayan. Men's badminton athlete Phasha Zilberman was able to take part in the tournament through the Long process, after being detained in Singapore due to visas.

Then, rock climbing athletes Yuval Shemla and Noa Shiran in the rock climbing world championship in September 2022. Yuval Shemla even defeated Indonesian representatives Musauwir in the men's lead number qualifying round. As well as cycling athlete Mikhail Yakovlev at the 2023 UCI Track Nations Cup at Velodrome Jakarta.

"The point is, we will continue to find the best solution. We must save Indonesian football together," added Arya.