PDI-P Acrobatics After the U-20 World Cup Canceled: From Regional Heads Rejecting Israel to End Blaming PSSI

PDI-P Acrobatics After the U-20 World Cup Canceled: From Regional Heads Rejecting Israel to End Blaming PSSI

Statements from a number of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) cadres who initially refused the participation of the Israeli football team in the 2023 U-20 World Cup now regret the decision of the International Football Association Federation (FIFA) to cancel Indonesia as the host of the competition. That. 

Currently, the Indonesian national team and some people are disappointed with FIFA's decision. This is because the Indonesian national team hopes to compete in the event as a stepping stone towards the world cup. 

On the other hand, the hubbub over the Israeli national team's presence in the competition is seen as a form of politicization by politicians ahead of the 2024 General Election (Election). 

Rejection of 2 governors

Two regional heads who are also PDI-P cadres, namely Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo and Bali Governor I Wayan Koster, also rejected the arrival of the Israeli national team. 

Koster even said he was worried that Bali's situation would not be conducive in the process of drawing participants and did not want dark memories such as the Bali bombing to repeat itself. 

Initially, the governor of Bali rejected the presence of the Israeli national team in Indonesia. On March 14, 2023, Wayan Koster sent Israel an official letter of rejection numbered T.00.426/11470/SEKRET. 

"We request that the Minister adopt a policy to prohibit teams from the State of Israel from competing in the Province of Bali. We, the Provincial Government of Bali, declare that we reject the participation of the Team from the State of Israel to compete in the Province of Bali," the letter read. 

In this regard, Wayan Koster said Israel's rejection was not personal, but also the government's. 

"Duh, not my attitude, (but) the government's attitude too," he said when met at the DPR-RI Building, Jakarta, Monday (27/3/2023). 

Ganjar also voiced his rejection of the presence of the Israeli national team. 

"We already know Bung Karno's commitment to Palestine, both voiced at the Asian-African Conference, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Conference of the New Emerging Forces," said Ganjar, Thursday (23/3/2023). 

"I hope that joint breakthrough steps will be taken, without the presence of Israel," said Ganjar. 

Jokowi Guarantee

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), who is also a PDI-P cadre, then delivered a speech responding to the polemic in the community. 

The Head of State ensured that Israel's participation in the 2023 U-20 World Cup in Indonesia did not affect Indonesia's support for Palestine. 

Indonesia, said Jokowi, is consistent and firm in fighting for and supporting Palestine as an independent nation. 

"I guarantee that Israel's participation has nothing to do with the consistency of our foreign policy position towards Palestine, because our support for Palestine has always been solid and strong," Jokowi said in a press statement, Tuesday (28/3/2023). 

Jokowi said that Indonesia supports the completion of a two state solution for Israel and Palestine. 

This principle is in accordance with the provisions of the constitution which reject colonialism in any form. 

"And we always convey this in bilateral forums, multilateral forums, and other international forums," said Jokowi. 

Regarding the holding of the 2023 U-20 World Cup, Jokowi said, Indonesia had followed a long selection process to be trusted as the host. 

He added, all parties are working hard to excel from Brazil and Peru who are also running as hosts. 

In October 2019, FIFA finally officially appointed Indonesia as the host for the U-20 World Cup. 

The voice of the PDI-P elite

The polemic also drew comments from PDI-P Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto. 

Before FIFA decided to cancel the 2023 U20 World Cup in Indonesia, Hasto believed President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) could take mutually beneficial steps so that the event could still be held. 

"And we believe Pak Jokowi is able to solve this problem with Pak Jokowi's ability, by lobbying the general chairman of PSSI, there will be the best solution," said Hasto in his statement, Wednesday (29/3/2023). 

Hasto revealed that PDI-P had no problem with the various existing proposals to resolve the issue. 

For example, the U-20 World Cup will still be held in Indonesia as scheduled, but the Israeli team's match will be held in a neighboring country. 

"We have no problem with such a solution, for example," he added. 

Hasto added, PDI-P highlighted FIFA's actions which were considered to raise double standards against participating countries, such as what was done to Russia at the Qatar World Cup. 

At that time, FIFA banned Russia from playing in the World Cup play-offs due to the Russia-Ukraine war. 

According to Hasto, this should also have happened to Israel. This is because Israel, under the leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu, often carries out massive acts of violence in the West Bank, even hospitals are bombed. 

"So that we understand, we conducted studies including survey data which stated negative sentiment. Then there are certain groups who want to ride the world cup which is actually far from politics, for political purposes. We still remember how there were various acts of violence perpetrated by the extreme right," Hasto explained. 

Separately, member of Commission X DPR from the PDI-P faction, Andreas Hugo Pareira, admitted that he did not agree if there was an assumption that politics should not be mixed with sports. 

"What we should have known beforehand, and we have anticipated for what reason, this is now developing in us, as if sports had nothing to do with politics," said Andreas in a working meeting (raker) Commission X DPR with the Acting (Plt) Menpora Muhadjir Effendy discussedimplementation of the U-20 World Cup in Indonesia, Tuesday (28/3/2023) evening. 

"I don't think it's true, I have a different opinion with most people who say that," he continued. 

Andreas assessed that sports events are definitely related to politics. Because, he said, many things related to football are political, such as security, economic and social matters. 

A number of these elements should have been anticipated. For example, regarding the participation of the Israeli national football team in the U-20 World Cup. 

"We should have been able to anticipate this from the start. Because of that, he came to be a problem, a controversy, he didn't come to be a controversy too," he added. 

Remind the government and blame PSSI

The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) has now been scapegoated by PDI-P after Indonesia failed to host the 2023 U-20 World Cup. 

PDI-P senior politician Hendrawan Supratikno believes that the failure was due to weakness in lobbying by PSSI to FIFA. 

"We regret the cancellation of the big event. PSSI's lobbies feel weak or dull," said Hendrawan when asked for confirmation, Thursday (30/3/2023). 

Hendrawan said that since August 2022 the PDI-P has reminded the government about Israel's participation in the U-20 World Cup in Indonesia. 

PR) of the Republic of Indonesia (RI) Hendrawan Supratikno. (DOK. DPR RI Public Relations)

He said, it would be better if when he was playing against Israel, the match was carried out abroad. 

"Even though it's been a long time, since August 2022, we have warned about the consequences of Israel's participation. From the start we proposed that the matches Israel would take part in would be held in the LN, a neighboring country, because we are in a position as Chair of ASEAN," he said. 

Meanwhile, Hasto expressed the same opinion as Hendrawan. 

"Our attitude emerged after Israel was confirmed to have passed the qualification," said Hasto in his statement, Thursday (30/3/2023). 

Hasto revealed that the PDI-P had conveyed this refusal even to the government. 

Also read: Indonesia Canceled to Host the U-20 World Cup, Gibran Will Find an International Replacement Event

PDI-P, said Hasto, had communicated with the government that various political and social vulnerabilities could occur if the Israeli national team continued to compete in Indonesia. 

"Since August 2022. We met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and a few months later with the Minister of State Secretary (discussing Israel's passage)," said Hasto. 

According to Hasto, this step was taken so that the government could immediately find the best solution for this rejection. 

He said one solution was to move Israel's matches to the nearest neighboring country. 

"So, U20 can still be held in Indonesia minus Israel," he said. 

Hasto expressed his sadness and regretted FIFA's decision. However, according to him there was no political agenda behind the rejection of the Israeli national team. 

"Voices rejecting Israel's presence are humanitarian voices, not political will. Historical awareness must also continue to be strengthened," he said. 

"To remember, the Bung Karno Stadium (GBK) was born as a rejection of Israel," continued Hasto.