Indonesia cancels visas of Israeli worlds team

[JaJa]

Isn't it just. One wonders what survivors of the recent and essentially internationally unpunished East Timorese genocide would make of all this.

All of your points above spot on

 

[IratePanda]

I don't have a lot to add, but I sincerely appreciate the thoughtful discussion here.

 

[MaryClare]

As with oh so many issues, a lot of people seem to forget that people who take the opposite view to them are just as sincere in their belief that they're obviously morally right.

You can't say it's fine for Country A to arbitrarily ban Country B's national team from an international competition for political reasons because you don't like Country B, but then complain when Country C (who you don't like) bans Country D (who you support).

Those cheering Indonesia today need to recognise that plenty of people would think it equally justified to ban Iranian footballers from taking part in the World Cup next summer, or ban Palestine from LA 2028.

It's just as well for Indonesia that no host nations decided to stop their athletes travelling to the Olympics etc when Suharto was conducting a genocide against the people of East Timor.

Exactly. This is why I am wholly against banning countries. By all means, ban individual athletes whose personal conduct falls short and countries are of course free to stage a boycott if they wish.