JakartaPost-Apr 3, 2023
Indonesian soccer movers, among them naturalized players, and the public are devastated by FIFA’s decision to revoke Indonesia’s standing as U-20 World Cup host after a political storm over Israel’s participation in the tournament. Crushed hopes and heartbreak couched in bland bureaucratic speak, the statement broke millions of Indonesia’s hearts, not least the country’s soccer aficionados. Among them are Akmal Marhali, coordinator of the Save Our Soccer NGO. Akmal directed his wrath at politicians of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle Party (PDI-P), as well as groups like the Muslim hardline 212 Alumni Movement, who spoke out against Israel’s participation in the U-20 World Cup. “[Central Java governor] Ganjar Pranowo and [Bali governor] I Wayan Koster, should shoulder the blame for the U-20 World Cup fiasco. They should apologize and resign for their actions or face class action lawsuit for letting down stakeholders for the U-20 World Cup, among them small and medium businesses, young Indonesian players in the U-20 squad, as well as 275 million Indonesians,” said Akmal to The Jakarta Post on March 30. Kompas TV news station estimated that the cancellation of the U-20 World Cup tournament cost the state at least Rp 675 billion (USD 45 million) in preparations for the Indonesian squad and renovations for the stadiums where the games would be held, among them in Solo, Central Java, in Palembang, South Sumatra and in Jakarta. Read more at: https://www.thejakartapost.com/paper/2023/04/03/how-indonesias-u-20-world-cup-fiasco-affects-naturalized-players.html.
