Indonesian President told citizens that the country agreed to host before knowing Israel would qualify.
Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, has been stripped of hosting the men’s Under-20 World Cup after calls to ban Israel’s participation in the tournament.
FIFA says Indonesia was removed from staging the 24-team tournament scheduled to start on May 20 “due to the current circumstances” without specifying details.
The decision followed a meeting in Doha, Qatar between Indonesian soccer federation president Erick Thohir and Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA.
Thohir said as a member of FIFA, Indonesia had little choice but to accept the decision.
Israel qualified in June of last year for its first Under-20 World Cup but its participation in the official draw for tournament groups, scheduled to be held Friday in Bali, provoked opposition this month when conservative Muslims took to the streets of Jakarta to protest Israel’s involvement.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo said Tuesday evening that his administration objected to Israel’s participation. He told citizens that the country agreed to host before knowing Israel would qualify.
This year, we want to do more to bless Israel and the Jewish people.
We know that as we bless Israel this year, God will bless us, just as He promised in Genesis 12:3, “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Now is the time to bless Israel and the Jewish people.
