Jokowi Asks Unfair Treatment At All England Not To Be Silenced

President Jokowi (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora) Zainudin Amali said that President Joko Widodo instructed all parties not to remain silent about the treatment experienced by the Indonesian badminton team in All England 2021.

"President Jokowi asked us to take quick and best steps, especially to save our children there", Zainudin said at a press conference at the Kemenpora office, Friday, reported by Antara.

"On the other hand, the President also asked that this unkind treatment should not be ignored and must be questioned", he added.

Menpora emphasized that the government is disappointed with the treatment of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) towards the Indonesian badminton team in All England 2021.

Moreover, players and officials were also treated unfairly after being forced to resign. They are not allowed to use the lift facilities and must return to the hotel on foot.

The Indonesian team currently has to undergo independent isolation in the hotel until March 23rd.

Zainudin ensured that the Indonesian Embassy in England had also supplied the logistical needs of the Indonesian team in Birmingham, considering that they were not allowed to leave the hotel.

The government is also currently trying to find clarity regarding the fate of the Indonesian team in Birmingham. If it is not possible to continue the match, they can be considered to return to their homeland.

"I just got the news that the logistics for them have been supplied, but I can't meet them physically. Currently, we are still trying to prevent our players from being confined (in the hotel)", he concluded.

The Indonesian team was required to withdraw from the BWF World Tour Super 1000 level tournament after 20 of the 24 members received an e-mail from the British health authority (NHS) informing that one of the passengers on the plane were traveling from Istanbul to Birmingham tested positive for COVID-19. They are required to undergo self-isolation at the hotel for 10 days from March 13-23.

The Red and White Squad had previously undergone a COVID-19 test upon arrival in Birmingham, Saturday, March 13 and all of them found negative results. However, by the UK Government's regulations regarding positive close contact tracing for COVID-19, the struggle of the Indonesian national team must stop halfway.

BWF was also considered to have failed to hold the competition because it could not anticipate unexpected events like what the Indonesian team had to experience.