Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is awaiting a report from the National Football Association (PSSI) on FIFA's potential sanctions against Indonesia following the removal of the country's status as the U-20 World Cup host.

"Yes, (the sanctions will be known) later after I meet Mr Thohir (Erick Thohir, head of PSSI), to find out what it is," the head of state stated in Bogor, West Java, on Friday.

Jokowi was officiating the Lido Special Economic Zone on the occasion.

He had sent the head of the National Football Association Erick Thohir to personally deliver a letter regarding the U-20 World Cup to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

However, FIFA stripped Indonesia of its rights to host the competition just after the meeting in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday (March 29), citing "current situation" as the reason without further elaboration.

Through its official announcement, FIFA stated that it is considering sanctions against Indonesia which will be announced later.

Jokowi spoke of already having given a directive to Thohir to report on his meeting with the FIFA president and also discuss possible sanctions that Indonesia might receive.

“He said that once he arrives (in Indonesia), he would immediately report to me," the president remarked.

Indonesia's right to host the U-20 World Cup was revoked following heated debates about the Israeli national team's participation in the competition.

The refusal of Bali Governor I Wayan Koster and Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo to allow their regions to be used as venues for the team to compete also influenced the decision.

The revocation of the host status is a result of Indonesia violating its agreement as a host, which could lead to potential sanctions against the country.

One possible sanction is that the national U-20 team cannot compete in the event, as they are only allowed to participate in the final phase as a host after failing to qualify for the Asian Cup U-20 2023.

Deputy Head of PSSI, Zainudin Amali, stated on Thursday (March 30) that this situation is different, as FIFA could impose more severe sanctions than in 2015.

Possible sanctions could include the inability to host FIFA-authorized matches and the national team's disqualification from playing in the final round of the 2023 Asian Cup, Amali remarked.

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Translator: Gilang Galiartha, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Anton Santoso
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