TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) chairman Erick Thohir guarantees security for the Israeli national football team that is qualified to play at the 2023 U20 FIFA World Cup in the country. He emphasizes that the state provides security for all team playing in Indonesia as the host.

“If we cannot provide an assurance, security, then perhaps Indonesia must no longer bid on international events,” said Erick at Jakarta State Palace, on Thursday, March 2.

The guarantee does not only apply to young football players but also to teams coming to the country for other competitions. Erick alluded to Indonesia’s plan to bid for the 2036 Olympics and up to the 2034 World Cup. “So we have to serve whoever the guests are,” the SOE Minister said.

He further said that FIFA invites Indonesia to the congress in Rwanda on March 16. “FIFA will ask us again, one of the points is whether we are ready or not. If we are not ready, we must talk about it from now on,” he added.

The Israeli national team is qualified for the U20 FIFA World Cup which will be held from May 22 to June 11 in Indonesia. Their planned arrival has drawn criticism from many parties.

One of them is the Deputy Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), Hidayat Nur Wahid, who demanded the plan of the Israeli team be corrected and reviewed. He argued that if their arrival is allowed, it could be capitalized by Israel as a permissive attitude and a form of acceptance of their occupation of Palestine.

“It is not in line with the mandate of the Constitution, which rejects all forms of occupation, including Israel's occupation of Palestine,” said Hidayat on Wednesday, June 29, 2022.

FAJAR PEBRIANTO

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