Member of PSSI Executive Committee Arya Sinulingga disclosed the information during a press conference in Gelora Bung Karno Stadium here on Saturday.
He mentioned that initially, the drawing event for U-20 World Cup was scheduled to take place in Bali on March 31. However, the Bali Provincial Government has expressed its refusal of welcoming Israel's national team, which led to that part of event being cancelled.
"Indeed, we have yet to receive the official letter from FIFA. But the message is clear: it is cancelled. We understand (that such that decision) is due to the refusal from Bali Governor, Bali Government, regarding the presence of Israeli team. So by itself, the drawing cannot be done without participation of one contesting team," he elaborated.
Sinulingga mentioned that the association understood that it is hard to separate politics from sport. Hence, the head of PSSI, Erick Thohir, will work with Foreign Affairs Minister to handle the aspects of diplomacy and foreign affairs as well as with the Youth and Sports Ministry as the host of the U-20 World Cup, he pointed out.
He also said that Thohir would report the latest situation to President Joko Widodo, so they can work to resolve the issues. Thohir also expected to communicate with FIFA to seek for the best solution, Sinulingga mentioned.
He affirmed that PSSI has talked to the Bali administration about the decision. However, PSSI respects the province's decision.
"We, PSSI, act as the host. First, (Bali) has refused the presence (of Israeli team), and then the drawing (got cancelled), so it ends up being difficult for us, we can no longer ask for it to be hosted there," he stated.
This issue could put Indonesia at risk of being sanctioned by FIFA, he said. Because Indonesia has already offered itself to host the competition, thus it is committed to bearing all the consequences that come with it, Sinulingga explained.
He stressed that if Indonesia fails to meet the expectations, then it has already violated the agreements which have been made.
"In 2018, we were banned too. We experienced that, so it is not something new, that we had already gone through it. And we do not want it to recur to us," he added.
Bali is one of the locations set for the U-20 World Cup. Other locations include Jakarta, Bandung, Solo, Surabaya, and Palembang.
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Translator: A Rauf Andar A, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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