Jakarta, March 27 (QNA) – The draw for the 2023 FIFA Under-20 World Cup that was due on Friday in Indonesia’s Bali was postponed days after Bali’s governor’s calls for Israel to be ruled out of the tournament, officials said.
In a statement, The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) said FIFA canceled the draw without giving reasons. The 24-team tournament is scheduled to kick off in Bali on May 20 and runs through June 11.
On March 14, Bali’s governor Wayan Koster sent a formal letter to the Indonesian government to reject Israeli team’s participation over the occupation forces’ policies against Palestinians that are not in line with Indonesia’s.
The PSSI warned in a statement that this move can be a reason for not holding the tournament in Indonesia, adding that it was discussing the possible solutions with the country’s ministries of foreign affairs and youth and sports.
(QNA)