Indonesian players cry because they lost the right to attend the U20 World Cup

Immediately after FIFA announced the decision to deprive Indonesia of the right to host, the team's coaching board summoned players to announce. Assistant coach Nova Arianto and several players burst into tears after hearing the news. In the 2023 U20 World Cup qualifier, also the Asian U20 tournament, Indonesia stopped right at the group stage, so there was no place to continue.

Striker Hokky Caraka said that he did not know what to do after Indonesia U20 was no longer able to participate in the tournament as the host. "Don't you still say that Indonesia entered this tournament just to pave the way," Caraka wrote on Instagram on March 30. "But even so, we trained like crazy for a year straight, three or four times a day. You don't understand how tired and under pressure we were. Now this is happening." .

Midfielder Arkhan Fikri was among the players who cried when they heard the news. He said he was born in a village, but had the opportunity to attend the World Cup playground. Fikri's family kept calling to ask when Indonesia would sell tickets to the tournament, so they could come and watch him play in person. "We went through a lot of hardship and suffering on the training ground," Fikri told Kompas channel, crying midway. "I'm sad and angry, but I don't know who to blame."

Midfielder Marselino Ferdinan said "the dream is broken", while captain Muhammad Ferarri said: "Are you satisfied to destroy our big dream? Can't imagine what we have done? We had to make sacrifices to participate in this award. We lost so much energy, spirit, sweat and blood, but they canceled the award for a political reason."

FIFA announced the decision on March 29, but did not specify the reason. A few days earlier, Indonesian President Joko Widodo said that if Israel U20 were to participate in the tournament in this country, the relationship between Indonesia and Palestine would not change because sport has nothing to do with politics. The Palestinian representative also said the same thing.

However, in the past few days, many protests have appeared in Indonesia, to protest against Israel U20 coming to Indonesia to play. The Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI) at one point considered the possibility of a group with Israel playing in Singapore, but was not approved. PSSI President Erick Thohir negotiated with FIFA President Gianni Infantino shortly before the official announcement, but to no avail. "We did our best," said Thohir.

Caraka and a few Indonesian U20 players actively commented on social networks criticizing the move of the Mayor of Central Java, Mr. Ganjar Pranowo. According to Kompas, Mr. Pranowo spoke most strongly about preventing Israel from going to Indonesia to play. Comments from Indonesian fans suggested that Pranowo wanted to win the hearts of Muslims before the 2024 presidential election.