Indonesia’s under-20 (U-20) national team players led by ‘K League Legend’ Shin Tae-yong shed tears at the news of the cancellation of the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which was scheduled to be held in their country in May. 안전놀이터
On the 29th (Korean time), FIFA officially announced the withdrawal of the hosting rights two months before the U-20 World Cup in Indonesia. “As a result of a meeting between FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) Secretary General Eric Thohir, FIFA has decided to exclude Indonesia from hosting the 2023 U-20 World Cup,” it said. “We will select a new venue as soon as possible,” he said, “provisional sanctions against PSSI will be decided later.” FIFA did not reveal the specific reason for the deprivation of the hosting rights, but only stated that it was a decision made according to the current situation in Indonesia.
It is analyzed that the recent sharp religious conflict with Israel was the cause. The problem arose when Israel passed the European qualifiers and obtained a ticket to the U-20 World Cup. A strong Islamic religious group in Indonesia, a brother state of Palestine, threatened the safety of Israeli athletes entering the country. They even considered a plan to disperse Israeli matches in Bali, a Hindu region, but the governor of Bali refused to enter Israel, and FIFA eventually deprived them of the hosting rights.
Indonesia U-20 national team players shed tears at the news of the sudden ‘change of venue’ and could not hide their sadness. In early April, ahead of the training camp in Korea, a video of the squad gathering in the lobby of the Sulta Senayan Hotel with the coaching staff during a training camp in Jakarta was reported through a YouTube channel. Midfielder Arkan Picri and coach Nova Ariantto were seen shedding tears. “I couldn’t help but shed tears because I know all too well how these young players feel,” coach Ariantto said on social media. He said, “The U-20 World Cup should have been a venue for Indonesian U-20 national team players to showcase their skills in front of the world. Unfortunately, this opportunity has disappeared as the Indonesia U-20 national team’s participation in the 2023 U-20 World Cup has been cancelled. It should have been a bridge to play on the world stage, but that opportunity has disappeared.” “We still have a long way to go, we have another dream and we have to keep fighting for it,” he said. no,” he said.
Korean coaching staff, including head coach Choi In-cheol, also said, “I prepared so hard and played a good game against a strong team, but it’s too bad that I can’t show my growth.” Let’s continue to challenge with the goal of the adult World Cup,” he comforted the players who were in despair.