Governing Bodies
Fury, sadness in Indonesia after FIFA pulls Under-20 World Cup
Indonesian players, fans and pundits reacted with anger and sadness on Thursday after Fifa stripped the host nation of the right to stage the Under-20 World Cup weeks before its kick off, following protests against Israel’s participation.
The humiliating incident came after two influential governors advocated banning Israel from the football competition.
Indonesia and Israel do not have formal diplomatic relations, and support for the Palestinian cause in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation runs high, fuelling local opposition to hosting the Israeli team.
Fifa’s decision to find a new host – thereby striking out Indonesia’s automatic qualifying spot – puts the country’s most popular sport back in the doldrums and facing another bout of isolation as it recovers from a 2022 stadium stampede that killed at least 125 people.
Some of the nation’s football prodigies took to social media with fury after losing the chance to play at what Fifa bills as the “tournament of tomorrow’s superstars”.
“Energy, time, sweat and even blood we have put in but, in a moment, failed because of political reasons. Here’s our big dream that you’ve destroyed,” wrote 19-year-old striker Rabbani Tasnim.
A video online showed players with heads bowed and their coach in tears after receiving the news late on Wednesday that Fifa would seek a new host.
“We, the players, are now affected, not just us but all footballers,” said 18-year-old striker Hokky Caraka.
Head coach Shin Tae Yong said he was “heartbroken and tired” after preparing the team for more than three years for the showpiece.
On Thursday morning, flower boards for the players popped up outside the Football Association’s (PSSI) headquarters in Jakarta, including one that read “Do not give up on your dream”.
Indonesians also inundated the Instagram page of Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo with negative comments after he opposed Israel’s participation.
Bali governor Wayan Koster had also joined the anti-Israel chorus and around a hundred conservative Muslim protesters held an anti-Israel rally in Jakarta in March.
Mr Koster on Thursday cited the occupation of Palestinian lands and “threat and security” concerns for rejecting Israel’s participation, comparing his call for a ban to Russia’s exile from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The Democratic Party of Struggle, the powerful nationalist ruling party of President Joko Widodo and Mr Koster, in a statement expressed regret about the decision but said it had sought for Israel to play its games in “the nearest neighbouring country”.
But there was popular support for the tournament – scheduled to be held from May 20 to June 11 – to go ahead as planned with many viewing it as a source of national pride.
Jakarta had pledged to guarantee Israel’s participation despite its pro-Palestinian stance, but opposing voices became too loud for Fifa.
“This is a very painful incident for the Indonesian people. Those who made the noise and made us fail… must be held accountable,” said Akmal Marhali, an expert at football watchdog Save Our Soccer.
Indonesian officials said losing the tournament could cost the country “trillions of rupiah”.
Fifa also threatened further sanctions for the protests and could exclude Indonesia from 2026 World Cup qualifiers that begin in October.
However, for Indonesia’s fervent fans, it was the loss of their first-ever major football tournament that hurt the most.
“I am very disappointed because it has been my dream to watch Indonesia hosting a global football event,” said 40-year-old supporter Jarnawi.
“We are talking about youths who want to play soccer. They do not have any more interests. Why is this issue blindly mixed with political games?,” said pundit Justinus Lhaksana.
Fifa said the decision was taken following a meeting between its president Gianni Infantino and PSSI chairman Erick Thohir.
“A new host will be announced as soon as possible… Potential sanctions against the PSSI may also be decided at a later stage,” a statement read.
President Widodo said he was “disappointed and sad” over the call, but added that it must be respected.
“Don’t waste your energy blaming one another. As a big nation, we have to look towards what’s in front, not behind,” he said, adding he had instructed Thohir to work on avoiding Fifa sanctions.
AFP/Reuters
By Kunle Solaja.
Egyptian publication Ahram has reported an astronomical increase in prize money in all tiers of Egyptian domestic competitions.
This decision by the Egyptian Football Association to unveil what it described as the biggest prize-money package in its history for the 2025/26 season has once again thrown the spotlight on the modest financial rewards in Nigerian domestic football competitions.
Under the new structure announced by the Egyptian federation, winners of the Egypt Cup will receive EGP 2 million (approximately $37,000), while runners-up will earn about $19,000. The champions of the Egyptian Premier League are also expected to pocket EGP 5 million, estimated at about $94,000.
The package extends beyond the elite division. Clubs promoted from Egypt’s Second Division (A) will each earn roughly $19,000, while those advancing from Second Division (B) will receive close to $9,500 each.
Women’s football and youth competitions were equally accommodated. Winners of the Women’s Football League will receive about $9,500, while the Women’s Egypt Cup champions and runners-up will earn nearly $7,500 and $3,700 respectively. Youth championships across several age categories also have dedicated prize allocations running into millions of Egyptian pounds.
The Egyptian initiative is being viewed in many football circles as a deliberate attempt to improve club stability, encourage grassroots development and make domestic competitions more competitive.
For Nigerian football stakeholders, the development offers another example of how stronger financial incentives can stimulate growth in local competitions.
In Nigeria, complaints over poor prize money have persisted for years, especially in the domestic league, women’s football and youth competitions. Several clubs continue to struggle financially, while players and officials often lament inadequate rewards despite demanding schedules and rising operational costs.
Observers argue that meaningful prize money can motivate clubs to invest more seriously in infrastructure, player welfare, youth development and women’s football.
The Egyptian model also demonstrates that football development is not restricted to top-flight competitions alone. By extending financial rewards to lower divisions and youth categories, the federation appears to be creating a broader economic support system for its football ecosystem.
Many Nigerian football followers believe the Nigeria Football Federation, the Nigeria Premier Football League and corporate partners can draw valuable lessons from Egypt’s approach.
With Nigerian clubs facing increasing financial pressure and continental competitiveness declining in recent years, analysts insist that enhanced prize money could become one of the incentives needed to revive domestic football and restore greater excitement around.
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By Kunle Solaja.
Nigeria is set to host the 48th Ordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), marking the third time the country will stage the continent’s top football gathering.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), which disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on the sidelines of the ongoing Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, approved Nigeria’s proposal to host the event.
The approval followed a meeting between President Tinubu and CAF President Patrice Motsepe, attended by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, former NFF President and Special Adviser to the CAF President Amaju Melvin Pinnick, as well as CAF Acting General Secretary Samson Adamu.
Sports Villages Square affirms that Nigeria previously hosted the CAF Congress at the National Theatre in Lagos in March 1980 and again in February 2009, when the late CAF President Issa Hayatou secured another four-year term in office.
In addition to this year’s 48th Ordinary General Assembly, scheduled for October, Nigeria also secured the hosting rights of the CAF Awards ceremony. The annual awards gala, which celebrates Africa’s top football performers, has been staged in Morocco over the past three years.
Nigeria had earlier hosted the CAF Awards when telecom firm, Globacom, was the headline sponsor. This year’s event will be the seventh to be held in Nigeria after those of 2005, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2016.
The CAF Ordinary General Assembly traditionally attracts key football stakeholders from across the continent, including presidents of CAF’s 54 member associations, representatives of the six zonal unions and senior football administrators.
The CAF Awards ceremony is regarded as one of African football’s flagship events, honouring outstanding players, coaches, clubs and officials in a glamorous setting that showcases the continent’s football excellence.
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FIFA’s independent Ethics Committee has banned former Guyana Football Federation (GFF) General Secretary Ian Alves from all football-related activities for five years after finding he sexually harassed female staff members.
FIFA also fined Alves 20,000 Swiss francs ($22,000) after determining that he had breached provisions of the FIFA Code of Ethics relating to the protection of physical and mental integrity, abuse of position and general duties.
“FIFA has a strict stance against all forms of abuse in football,” the organisation said on Monday.
The decision followed a review of written statements from the victims, documents provided by the GFF, submissions from Alves, and other evidence gathered during the investigation.
Alves stepped down from his position in 2024.
The ban came into force on Monday, when the terms of the decision were notified to Alves, and the full grounds for the ruling will be communicated within 60 days in accordance with the Code of Ethics, FIFA added.
The GFF did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Alves could not immediately be reached for comment.
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