JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has spoken out regarding the polemic of participating by the Israeli team in the 2023 U-20 World Cup. He said the Israeli national team's participation had nothing to do with Indonesia's political position towards Palestine.
In a press statement held on Tuesday, March 28 evening, WIB, the government agreed with the Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia who said there were FIFA rules that must be obeyed.
"FIFA has rules that its members must obey. So don't mix and mix sports and political affairs," Jokowi said in a press statement broadcast live on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel.
Jokowi said that Indonesia did not yet know who participated in the U-20 World Cup when it was appointed to host by FIFA in October 2019. The reason is, at that time the pre-qualification process was still ongoing.
"Israel's certainty of passing the U-20 World Cup selection is only known in July 2022," said the number one person in Indonesia.
As is known, Indonesia's status as the host of the U-20 World Cup is threatened. This is the aftermath of various rejections of the Israeli team's participation.
The rejection came from the Governor of Bali I Wayan Koster and also the Governor of Central Java Ganjar Pranowo. This rejection is allegedly the reason FIFA canceled the draw or draw for the U-20 World Cup group which should have been held in Bali, March 31.
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