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By Andrew Warshaw
February 9 – Indonesia’s flagging campaign to stage the 2022 World Cup was hanging by a thread today after it emerged that the Government was still stalling over contributing vital support.
Informed sources have told insideworldfootball that the country could even pull out of the running altogether this week after a complete impasse over Government investment just three months before bid books have to be lodged with FIFA.
Since launching their campaign, Indonesia has trumpeted efforts to combat global warming an integral part of the bid.
But its so-called green initiative appears not to have generated any green bank notes to go with it.
The Jakarta Government believes the Indonesian Football Association should focus on grassroots development before considering an ambitious World Cup bid.
“Without backing from the Government, Indonesia will be disqualified from the bidding process,” Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) deputy secretary general Dali Tahir told the Jakarta Post newspaper.
“If we don’t take the opportunity now, we’ll have to wait for another 20 years.
“President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Minister of Youth and Sport Andi Alifian Mallarangeng are the key figures to make this bid happen.
“We plead to them.”
It is understood the Indonesian Government has not even officially confirmed to FIFA that it is backing the bid.
“The PSSI must put the focus on revitalising football development in the country, not anything else,” Minister for sport Andi Alifian Mallarangeng told the Jakarta Post.
“We have to pull ourselves to the top of the Southeast Asian region again, then we’ll have to be one of Asia’s best.
“After that, we can talk about the World Cup.”
Indonesian authorities have publicly signalled they would instead consider a joint bid with Australia but that has been firmly kicked into touch on the Australian side.
Dali Tahir, PSSI deputy general secretary who has served on FIFA’s Ethics Committee, said FIFA had already agreed in principle to award Asia hosting rights for 2022, a significant fillip for Australia’s campaign as well as that of Qatar though not, if true, for the United States.
“Australia doesn’t want to face us head-to-head,” said Tahir.
“They prefer to have us as a strategic ally.”
But that was ruled out by the Australians for whom an insider told insideworldfootball: “There is no suggestion of a joint bid being put forward even though we have very close relations with the Indonesian football authorities.
“We are continuing to bid for both the 2018 and 2022 finals.”
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