Opposition to Israel in the U20 World Cup: Dilemma of Duality of Sport and Politics in Indonesia
Written by Gracia Ayni Warella
Sixty years ago, Soekarno voiced opposition to the Israeli team’s presence in the Asian Games after political tensions heated up worldwide and Indonesia’s close relationship with Arab countries (Mangan et al., 2014), yet Israel was not the only one. Taiwan, a political enemy of China, received the same rejection by Indonesia for not participating in the games due to Soekarno’s tendency to the communist cause. The relationship between sports and politics is one of the most enduring and pervasive examples of how ideologies affect the sports industry. While there may still be some people who consider them to be completely separate entities, evidence suggests that it is no longer possible for anyone to posit a separation between the worlds of sport and politics. However, how can an ordinary football game be enjoyed if the entire perspective is built on political issues?
This question arises from the recent phenomenon where controversy regarding the acceptance of the Israeli team to play in the U20 World Cup was spreading around social media. It created a division of political parties and actors speaking against or supporting the motion. Two famous figures who are also governors, Ganjar Pranowo and I Wayan Koster, expressed their opposition publicly, which triggered. mixed reactions among the people of Indonesia (Pratama, 2023). Some groups, such as Partai Demokrasi Indonesia (PDI) Perjuangan, Partai Keadilan Sejahtera (PKS), and other conservative groups, agreed to the rejection using the historical argument considering that Soekarno made a similar decision to Israel as a part of his Mercusuar policy (Hübner, 2012). Furthermore, Gelora Bung Karno (GBK), the stadium that will be used for the World Cup, symbolizes opposition to Israel at the time and as a form to gather Arabian countries’ support. The conflict in Israel-Palestine is often seen as a religious issue; thus, religious groups use this chance to participate in the resistance. These arguments directly support the notion that sports may be mixed with political purposes.
In contrast, in solidarity with the players, the football enthusiast conveyed their disappointment at the refusal, which could lead to the cancellation of Indonesia’s hosting opportunities. This side argues that the opposition was only a part of the political populist strategy in amassing supporters for next year’s election (Clift & Tomlinson, 2022). However, it is still aligned with our foreign policy of bebas aktif, which accentuates the importance of being independent of all foreign ideological influences yet maintaining an active contribution to the international community (Satris, 2019). Other than that, non-partisan and nationalistic groups that propose the idea of separating sport and politics, argued about how important for Indonesia to be a good host country. The country must uphold the outstanding branding Joko Widodo has brought through G20 2022 Summit and ASEAN 2023 Chairmanship; therefore, rejecting the fair competition to be held could trigger a more negative perception by many countries. Despite controversies and efforts in lobbying FIFA to keep Indonesia as the host, was eventually failed. Following the debate in the country over the participation of Israel, FIFA removed Indonesia as U20 World Cup’s host country and will give appropriate sanctions (Andriyanto, 2023).
Division in Indonesian society shows how sports and politics intersect. While the argument for allowing the Israeli team has a logical foundation of respecting sportsmanship, Israel has passed to the final rounds through fair selection. Nevertheless, throughout international relations history, sports have been consistently used to voice political aspirations, build international image and promote nation-building (Horne et al., 1999). Separating these two fields, even in an Indonesian context, is impossible. As mentioned above, Soekarno was using sports as his geopolitical tool to raise support for independence and recognition of the newly formed state. Years after the reformation, Joko Widodo used Asian Games to boost Indonesia’s significance on the international stage by conducting a spectacular opening ceremony. Trotier (2021) in his writing argued that hosting a mega-event of sport strengthens global connectivity and provides opportunities to increase networks and build soft power.
The relationship between sports and politics is quite strong and sometimes inevitable, but understanding the nature of both aspects is essential. The social value orientations prevailing in a society usually form the basis for its external goals and the means for achieving them (Rosenau, 1976). Translating a society’s dominant cultural values into foreign policy involves the influence of public opinion on specific issues. In this context, some groups perceive U20 World Cup as an international arena of political aspirations, while some see it should be free from ideological interest. This differentiation in opinions is rooted in the belief that the presence of an Israeli team indirectly violates Indonesia’s stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict, where the situation in Palestine is genuinely mournful, with deaths and damaged properties surrounded by violence (Nugraha, 2023). Furthermore, it highlights two layers of foreign policy, domestic and international, which is crucial in negotiating on both levels. Hudson (2007) theorizes that foreign policy should be based on unique cultural values and domestic public opinion. Therefore, no matter the circumstances, various social and political factors will inevitably influence foreign policy.
The debate on whether it is acceptable to mix sports and politics is not answered through this writing, but accentuating how pervasive politics can be to non-political events, particularly sports. Denying the influence of ideological interest in sports shows naivety in understanding Indonesia’s sociopolitical history. In conclusion, the impact of geopolitics and human rights on sports highlights the interconnection between sports and broader social, cultural, and political issues. It underscores the need to conduct foreign policy at both domestic and international levels.
REFERENCES
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