Indonesia fined by Tennis Federation

Muslim country pulled out of match in TA in protest over IDF actions in Gaza.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
shahar peer 298.88 (photo credit: AP [file])
shahar peer 298.88
(photo credit: AP [file])
The International Tennis Federation has fined Indonesia US$31,600 and banned it from next year's tournament for canceling its July Fed Cup match against Israel at Tel Aviv. The Indonesian Tennis Association is expected to appeal the ruling before the Dec. 20 deadline, Ferry Raturandang, secretary general of the ITA, said Thursday after being informed of the decision by e-mail. Muslim-dominated Indonesia, which has no diplomatic relations with Israel, had asked that the venue of its World Group II playoff match be moved to another country. But Raturandang said the decision was made over security concerns, and not politically motivated, as alleged by the ITF. Raturandang said Indonesia was told it must pay US$5,000 for pulling out of the match; US$6,600 to compensate the ITF`s spending on preparations for the Israel Fed Cup, and US$20,000 to host Israel. Indonesia was in the World Group II playoffs this year, but the sanction relegates the country to Group II of the Asia/Oceanic Zone in 2008, he said. The government in May initially consented for the team to travel to Israel, but instructed it to pull out of the July 15-16 Fed Cup match at Ramat Hasharon in protest over Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip, Indonesian foreign ministry officials have said. Indonesia has long supported Palestinian independence and suggestions that ties with the Jewish state be restored are routinely met by large street protests and criticism from religious leaders.