Indonesia president says no foreign policy change in hosting Israel for U-20 World Cup

Record ID: 1717501

  • Title: Indonesia president says no foreign policy change in hosting Israel for U-20 World Cup
  • Date: 28th March 2023
  • Summary: BALI, INDONESIA (MARCH 28, 2023) (REUTERS) PEOPLE ENTERING FUTSAL COURT VARIOUS EXTERIOR OF FUTSAL ARENA
  • Embargoed: 11th April 2023 18:12
  • Keywords: FIFA Indonesia Israel Palestine U20 World Cup soccer
  • Location: JAKARTA, BALI, INDONESIA
  • City: JAKARTA, BALI, INDONESIA
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Soccer,Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA004088028032023RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Indonesia's president said on Tuesday (March 28) that Israel's participation in the Under-20 World Cup to be hosted by his country meant no change to its foreign policy, stressing amid domestic protests that sport and politics should not be mixed.
    Joko Widodo confirmed he had sent Erick Thohir, a cabinet minister and former Inter Milan chairman who heads the country's football association (PSSI), to talk to the world governing body FIFA, after the draw for next month's tournament was cancelled over opposition to Israel taking part.
    PSSI on Sunday (March 26) said the draw for the 24-team tournament, initially scheduled for Friday (March 31), had been cancelled after the governor of the largely Hindu holiday island of Bali refused to host Israel's team.
    The cancellation raised fears the country might lose its hosting rights and plunge Indonesian football into isolation again after it was suspended from FIFA for a year until May 2016 due to government interference.
    As many Indonesians were expecting to host the event to boost tourism income, some of them expressed their disappointment and fear of the FIFA sanction over the issue.
    Muhadjir Effendy, the acting sports minister, late on Tuesday (March 28) told parliament that a solution must be found and that hosting the tournament was crucial for Indonesian football.
    (Production: Sultan Anshori, Yuddy Cahya Budiman)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2023. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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