PDIP Secretary General Reveals Meeting Ministers In Jokowi's Cabinet After Israel Qualifies For The U-20 World Cup Qualification

FIFA revokes Indonesia's status as host of the U-20 World Cup. (Photo: Doc. FIFA)

The PDI-P (PDIP) established communication between the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Menlu) Retno Marsudi and Minister of State Secretary (Mensetneg) Pratikno discussing Israel who passed the U-20 World Cup qualifiers. PDIP Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto said the meeting had been held since August 2022 and discussed several things. "We have communicated with the government about the PDI-P's stance and the potential for political and social vulnerability if Israel continues to compete in Indonesia," said Hasto in a written statement, Thursday, March 30. From that meeting, Hasto said PDIP hoped there would be the best solution such as moving Israel's matches in the nearest neighboring country. He considered this hope to be in line because his party had never rejected the U-20 World Cup. "So that U-20 can still be held in Indonesia minus Israel," he said. PDIP regrets FIFA's decision to revoke the host status of the U-20 World Cup in the midst of this polemic. Hasto said, the party's attitude was a form of defending humanity against Palestine. After all, a similar precedent occurred when FIFA crossed Russia out of the World Cup Playoff. "What we convey is fundamental to voice humanity in relations between nations by rejecting Israel's presence and the potential for social and political vulnerability that will result from the presence of the Israeli national team," he said. "The sound of rejecting Israel's presence is the voice of humanity, not the political will. Historical awareness must also continue to be strengthened. To remember, Gelora Bung Karno Stadium (GBK) was born as a rejection of Israel," continued Hasto. However, Hasto appreciated the government and PSSI administrators who tried to lobby. "Our most important determination is to build a reliable team of football, a symbol of the supremacy of sports outside badminton. This must be the main goal in sports politics," Previously, FIFA officially revoked Indonesia's status as host of the U-20 World Cup due to the current situation in the country. This is allegedly due to the swift rejection of the Israeli team's participation in the U-20 World Cup.

The rejection also came from the Governor of Central Java Ganjar Pranowo and Bali Governor I Wayan Koster. In fact, Ganjar's Instagram account was invaded by Indonesian U-20 national team players who were disappointed.