Development fund allocated for Indonesia’s football association is being frozen by FIFA after the country was stripped as hosts of this year’s Under-20 World Cup, football’s governing body said on Thursday.
FIFA barred the Southeast Asian nation from staging the May 20-June 11 event after the country’s football association (PSSI) in the predominantly Muslim country said it had cancelled the draw be-cause the governor of Bali refused to host Israel’s team.
FIFA said that it “provisionally recommended a restriction on” the use of FIFA Forward development funds for the PSSI and would reconsider lifting the sanction after reviewing Indonesia’s plan to improve on Indonesian football.
Earlier, Indonesia has been stripped of the right to host the under-20 football World Cup.
The decision to remove Indonesia as host of the May 20-June 11 tournament was taken after its football federation (PSSI) said it had cancelled the draw after the governor of the largely Hindu island of Bali refused to host Israel’s team.
“FIFA has decided, due to the current circum-stances, to remove Indonesia as the host of the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2023,” a FIFA statement said.
“A new host will be announced as soon as pos-sible, with the dates of the tournament currently remaining unchanged. Potential sanctions against the PSSI may also be decided at a later stage.”
FIFA added that the decision had been taken following a meeting between the world football governing body’s president Gianni Infantino and PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir.—APP
