Ministry Of Youth And Sports To Stop Financing The U-19 National Team For The U-20 World Cup

Menpora Zainudin Amali (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali emphasized that the Ministry of Youth and Sports has stopped financing all activities of the Indonesian U-19 national team using the State Budget (APBN) after the announcement of the cancellation of the 2021 U-20 World Cup.

According to Zainudin, right after FIFA announced the cancellation of the 2021 U-20 World Cup in Indonesia on December 24, 2020, all U-19 national team activities, including the training camp (TC) in Spain, became the responsibility of PSSI.

"Regarding the budget, I reiterate, for the U-19 national team, which was prepared for the 2021 U-20 World Cup, we still provide it from the state budget," Zainudin Amali said in a virtual press conference quoted from Antara, Wednesday.

"But as soon as there was an announcement of FIFA, we immediately closed it. Then we made a verification on the LPJ (accountability report). Regarding financing of outside activities, it is the responsibility of the federation," he added.

Zainudin continued that since the notification of the cancellation from FIFA was announced, PSSI had agreed to terminate the budget from the APBN.

However, the Ministry of Youth and Sports is ready to facilitate the next national plate budget, including PSSI's plan for the U-19 long-term TC for the U-20 World Cup.

However, PSSI must send a new comprehensive proposal related to the plans and patterns of the national plate, targets, and composition of the national team that are being prepared for the 2023 U-20 World Cup.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports will later review the PSSI planning related to the long-term TC plan as usual, as has been done so far in the process of reviewing proposals for national training facilitation requests from the main sports branch management.

Not only the U-19 national team, all the financing needed for the 2021 U-20 World Cup Organizing Committee (INAFOC), he continued, was also stopped.

The ongoing financing is only for the improvement of stadium facilities and infrastructure, because even though the 2021 U-20 World Cup is canceled, stadium renovation work is still being carried out.

"Except for those that have been contracted for facilities and infrastructure. It is carried out under the Ministry of PUPR according to the contract, "he concluded.