Danito NSUBUGA
The international Football governing body (FIFA) has announced that Indonesia will not host the U-20 football tournament that is set to take place between May and June this year.
According to CNN, a governor of the resort Island of Bali sent a letter to Indonesia sports ministry requesting that Israel be banned from competing in the province which has one of the hosting cities.
Indonesia is a Muslim majority nation who does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel and supports the cause of the Palestinians.
There were also reports of attempted protests against Israel’s participation in the tournament.
A statement from FIFA read.
“FIFA has decided, due to the current circumstances, to remove Indonesia as the host of the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2023,”
FIFA said in a statement, without providing further clarification.
“A new host will be announced as soon as possible, with the dates of the tournament currently remaining unchanged.”
A total of 24 teams were scheduled to play in the youth tournament across six Indonesian cities from May 20 to June 11. Israel have qualified for the first time.
They alongside England, France, Italy and Slovakia will represent Europe.
Uganda missed out on their first ever championship after they were eliminated by Nigeria who will be joined by The Gambia, Tunisia and Senegal .
