FIFA Allows Supporters to Raise Palestinian Flag

during U-17 World Cup

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) announced
that FIFA allows supporters to raise the Palestinian flag in stadiums during the
U-17 World Cup 2023. PSSI chairman, Erick Thohir, said he had coordinated the
matter with the world football's governing body.

Erick said FIFA had no problem with the flying of the Palestinian flag as a symbol
of support for humanity and protection of human rights.“FIFA values freedom of
expression, moreover the protection of human rights and humanity. This is in
the context of the raising of the Palestinian flag. So PSSI emphasizes that there
are no bans, let alone sanctions,” Erick said as quoted from the PSSI’s official
page on Thursday, Nov. 9.

The biennial youth tournament is set to kick off on Friday, November 10, and will
run until December 2, 2023, in Jakarta, Bandung, Solo, and Surabaya. As the host
nation, Indonesia will take on Ecuador in Group A in their opening match on
Friday at the Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium in Surabaya.

According to PSSI's social media account, tickets for the opening match were
sold out the day before the match, or on Thursday, Nov. 9. Previously, PSSI’s
Disciplinary Committee fined Persiraja Banda Aceh, one of the Indonesian
League 2 clubs, Rp10 million after spectators raised Palestinian flags on the field
following the match against Semen Padang FC on October 21, 2023.

Tempo observed that the flag-raising took place shortly after the referee blew
the long whistle to signal the end of the match. At that time, the opposing
players and match officials were still present. Erick clarified that the issue was
not the flying of the Palestinian flag, but the pitch invasion. “We are very strict in
implementing security standards on the field after the Kanjuruhan tragedy,” he
stressed.

Echoing Erick Thohir's sentiments, the Chairman of the PSSI Legal Committee,
Ahmad Riyadh, said supporters could show their solidarity with Palestine in the
stadium seats and stands. However, Riyadh called on fans to refrain from
invading the pitch as this would violate regulations and safety.