President Jokowi Instructs PSSI to Lobby Against FIFA Sanctions

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo does not want Indonesia to be subject to FIFA sanctions nor isolated on the world football map.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

President Joko Widodo accompanied by PSSI General Chair Erick Thohir and National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo at the Bung Karno Main Stadium, Jakarta, Saturday (1/4/2023). Jokowi gave encouragement to the U-20 Indonesian national team players after it was confirmed that they would not play in the U-20 World Cup after FIFA's decision to revoke Indonesia as a host.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – After FIFA stripped Indonesia’s hosting rights for the U-20 World Cup, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo instructed Indonesian FootballAssociation (PSSI) chairman Erick Thohir to immediately resume talks with world governing body FIFA. Jokowi does not want Indonesia to be subject to FIFA sanctions nor isolated on the world football map.

“I have met with President [Jokowi] and given a detailed report on the meeting between the FIFA president and myself in Doha. I brought a letter from the FIFA president, which I gave directly to the President,” said Erick at the Presidential Office in Jakarta on Friday (31/3/2023).

After reading the letter, President Jokowi instructed Erick to do two things. The first was to immediately draw up a blueprint for the transformation of Indonesian football.

“The President emphasized that this must be completed immediately and submitted to FIFA as soon as possible,” said Erick.

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Second, to immediately resume talks with FIFA “in order for us to remain a part of the FIFA family, which has a total of 216 members, which includes us. This means that the President does not want us to be isolated on the world football map,” said Erick.

Erick said his party would try its best to ensure the transformation of Indonesians footballso it does not remain a pipe dream.

“I will also work hard to renegotiate with FIFA and to avoid potential sanctions. FIFA itself clearly expected these things to not happen, but if we look at the letter, it is also clear that FIFA is considering sanctioning Indonesia,” he said.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

President Joko Widodo talks with the coach of the U-20 Indonesian team Shin Tae-yong at the Bung Karno Main Stadium, Jakarta, Saturday (1/4/2023).

Erick is currently awaiting another invitation from FIFA to have a meeting in the coming days. He is also prepared to meet with FIFA.

According to him, the harshest sanction on Indonesia would be the prohibition of the country from competing worldwide, both as a national team and as a club. It would be a major setback for Indonesian footballif such sanctions were imposed. Similar sanctions were imposed on Indonesia in 2015.

“I believe that is what we’re hoping not to have,” said Erick.

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Erick said FIFA monitored all the objections that had been raised regarding the participation of the Israeli U-20 team and saw it as an intervention.

“FIFA often imposes sanctions when there is government intervention. However, in this case, aside from interventions, there were also the contracts signed by the host country and the host cities, which guaranteed security. So, of course, this might be a consideration for FIFA as well,” Erick explained.

According to Erick, in a developing country that strives to become a developed country, such as Indonesia, the development of footballcannot be separated from the government’s role. The government encourages the development of footballand other sports, by, for example, constructing conducive football infrastructure.

Disappointment

Meanwhile, members of a Generation Z social community, CentennialZ, expressed their disappointment with the cancellation of the U-20 World Cup 2023 in Indonesia by holding a protest on Friday (31/3/2023). They distributed black ribbons as a symbol of grief for Indonesian football.

CentennialZ community head Dino Ardiansyah encouraged the government and PSSI to find a solution so that Indonesian footballwould not be subject to FIFA sanctions.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

President Joko Widodo poses for a photo with the U-20 Indonesian national team players and the coaching team at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, Jakarta, Saturday (1/4/2023).

Indonesian U-20 team players Aditya Arya and Arkhan Kaka were also present at the protest. Aditya and Arka expressed their disappointment over the canceled tournament as well. Aditya said he had not yet recovered mentally.

On a separate occasion, the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) initiated the “Stand for Indonesian Sports” movement, in order to keep sports away from political intervention and discrimination.

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KOI chairman Raja Sapta Oktohari said the cancellation of the U-20 World Cup could happen to other sports tournaments if no mitigation measures were prepared. Okto invited sports branch officials to campaign for sports that were free from politics and discrimination.

“We are sad and disappointed that we cannot see the U-20 Indonesians compete. Hopefully, stakeholders will see that sports should be used as a tool for unity, not a tool for division,” said Okto.

This stance is important because President Jokowi has asked the KOI to bring many international tournaments to Indonesia. According to Okto, the Olympic Charter mandates that sports embrace all groups regardless of ethnicity, religion, race and class. (Z09)

This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia.