Indonesia lost its chance to host the U-20 World Cup just one month before the event started and was subjected to light sanctions from FIFA because of local resistance to Israel’s participation. Following a meeting between Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) Chairman Erick Thohir and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the punishment was made public on Thursday 6th of April 2023 following all the fiasco that happened over the past few weeks.
“The FIFA President explained following last week’s meeting that the FIFA Administration had as a sanction, provisionally recommended a restriction on the use of FIFA Forward funds until further notice,” FIFA said in a press release posted on its website. “Now, the Administration would thoroughly assess the strategic plan that has been presented today before lifting this sanction.”
Infantino also reiterated at the meeting “FIFA’s entire commitment to help PSSI in this vital reform process and will give the necessary assistance when required.”
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Since the Kanjuruhan Stadium stampede in Malang, East Java which claimed more than 130 lives on the 1st of October, 2022, FIFA has pledged to assist in transforming Indonesian football. Additionally, it consented to send representatives to the Indonesia Football Association (PSSI) office to oversee the aid program directly.
Erick Thohir expressed gratitude to FIFA for not taking a more severe sanction against Indonesia in a statement, comparing the sanction to a “yellow card.”
“I can only say ‘praise be to God’ because of His favour and the prayers of all the Indonesian people, especially football fans, that Indonesia is spared from the severe sanction of being cut off from the world of football,” wrote Erick.
He went on to say that Indonesia had received a yellow card rather than a red one.
In the meeting, Infantino was given the government’s plan to refurbish 22 football stadiums around the country, according to Erick, who also serves as the Cabinet’s Minister for State-Owned Enterprises. He was also given the blueprint for the change in Indonesian football management.
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