PKS Disappointed that the U-20 World Cup was Canceled in RI, Brings Up the LGBT Polemic in Pildun Qatar

Deputy Chairman of the PKS Syuro Council Hidayat Nur Wahid (HNW) was disappointed with FIFA's decision to drop Indonesia from hosting the U-20 World Cup. HNW assesses that FIFA has acted discriminatory against Indonesia. 

"I am indeed disappointed with FIFA which was discriminatory and then crossed out Indonesia as the host for the U-20 World Cup," said HNW when contacted, Thursday (30/3/2023). 

The deputy chairman of the MPR considered FIFA to be discriminatory. He then brought up FIFA's move to punish Russia after invading Ukraine but a similar punishment was not rewarded for Israel's invasion of Palestine. 

"FIFA has violated one of the principles it holds, namely non-discrimination. But in this case it has acted discriminatory," said HNW. 

"It is discriminatory because it punishes Russia for invading Ukraine, but FIFA does not punish Israel for not participating in FIFA activities. Even though Israel has invaded and occupied Palestine since 1948," he added. 

Thus, HNW assessed that FIFA should have considered RI's rejection of Israel. So that it does not pass Israel into the U20 World Cup. 

"So when Indonesia has such a firm stance regarding the rejection of Israeli occupation of Palestine, this stance should have been known to FIFA from the start. So when FIFA appointed Indonesia as the organizer, it should have considered this," he said. 

HNW then brought up FIFA's stance that it can accommodate Qatar even though it strongly rejects LGBT. According to him, FIFA should also be able to accommodate RI's stance. 

"In the context of Qatar, as the organizer of the 2022 World Cup, even the head of the committee at that time firmly said, 'We will not sell the teachings that we believe in, namely rejecting LGBT only for the world cup event'. And then FIFA accommodates that aspiration and we see that no one should use a band from an LGBT team," said HNW. 

"Naturally, if Qatar can also be accommodated, FIFA should also be able to accommodate Indonesia. So don't be discriminatory," he continued.