Indonesia's World Cup bid finally axed by FIFA

By David Owen

March 19 - And then there were nine after Indonesia appears to be out of the race to stage the 2022 World Cup following its failure to come up with satisfactory Governmental guarantees by the required deadline.

FIFA’s ruling Executive Committee, meeting in Zurich today, decided to inform the Indonesian Bidding Committee that they had “lost their right to bid to host the 2022 World Cup after adequate Governmental guarantees were not provided by Indonesia by the relevant deadlines”.

The Indonesian bid, generally regarded as the rank outsider to win the tournament, had appeared to be hanging by a thread for some time due to doubts over Government support.

The Jakarta Government believes the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) should focus on grassroots development before a World Cup bid.

Nurdin Halid, the archipelago’s top football administrator, has been asked next month to explain to the country’s lawmakers how it can be more successful on the international stage.

Indonesia’s exclusion would make the timetable for FIFA technical inspection visits to bidding countries marginally less crowded.

These are expected to take place in July, August and September.

Seven bids - Australia, Belgium/Holland, England, Japan, Russia, Spain/Portugal and USA – are left in the race for the 2018 tournament.

These countries are also competing, along with Qatar and South Korea, for the 2022 competition.

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