TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir answered a series of controversies related to the renovation of the Jakarta International Stadium (JIS) for the 2023 U-17 World Cup. Starting from the reasons for renovating without waiting for FIFA verification to accusations of politicization for the 2024 General Election.
In a previous review conducted by Erick with Acting (Pj) Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono, and several other parties, three main problems were found from HEnamely entry and exit access, parking area, and grass quality.
Erick also pushed for the renovation of JIS by the PUPR Ministry before the stadium was submitted to FIFA as one of the arenas for the U-17 World Cup matches. This actually caused controversy in society.
So, how did Erick respond to the series of controversies? Listen to the answer from the General Chairperson of PSSI who is also the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN). Tempo summarize the following:
1. JIS Must Be Renovated, Otherwise FIFA Will Abort It
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Erick believes that with the current conditions, JIS will not pass FIFA’s selection as one of the arenas for the 2023 U-17 World Cup. For this reason, he and the government are pushing for stadium repairs before it is submitted to the world football federation.
“The more international standard stadiums the better, this is the intention so that JIS can be used for the U-17 World Cup. If FIFA comes today, come shake hands with me (definitely) crossed out,” he said when met at the Danareksa Tower, Central Jakarta, Wednesday , July 5, 2023.
The former President of the Inter Milan Club took the example of the current condition of the JIS grass which is divided in two. “We have this good intention to ensure that JIS can be part of the qualification. Grass for example, that’s clear. We don’t need to argue about the types of grass. There are grasses that last a long time and a little sun.”
“This is not a mistake, we want this to pass including the stadiums in West Java and Surabaya. For example, the Surabaya stadium has already passed the U-20 World Cup, but suddenly it is used to play damaged later it is not suitable so it must be repaired, ” he explained.
2. Reasons for JIS being renovated without waiting for FIFA verification
Erick said he had promised FIFA to renovate 22 stadiums in Indonesia, including the Jakarta International Stadium (JIS). This, he said, was the reason for PSSI planning to renovate JIS before FIFA verified it.
“Are the stadium renovations only in Jakarta? Right not. Yesterday during the U-20 World Cup there were in Bali, Bandung, Jakarta, South Sumatra, what does that mean? For 22 of these stadiums they want to be renovated,” he said when met at the Madya Gelora Bung Stadium Karno, Jakarta, Thursday, 6 July 2023.
“Yesterday there was a discussion whether Mato Angin or BJ Habibie, yes, they are sitting. So don’t make a fuss later, why Mato Angin, why BJ Habibie,” he explained. “Remember this renovation has been promised to FIFA, plus if possible this renovation can also support it WAS.”
3. JIS Renovation is Not Politicization
Erick denied the accusation that there was politicization behind the JIS renovation plan. According to him, this plan is the government’s effort to encourage the feasibility of JIS as an arena for the U-17 World Cup matches.
“If JIS is associated with political issues, it’s the other way around. In fact, this government wants to renovate 22 stadiums to international and FIFA standards,” said Erick in a written statement in Jakarta, Thursday, July 6, 2023.
“The government will also propose fields for U-17s. There are six or eight fields to be submitted, including JIS. But before they are submitted, we must improve their quality,” he added.
4. JIS Renovation to Achieve FIFA Standards, Not Just International
Erick expressed his wish for Indonesia to have a FIFA-standard stadium, not just an international one. The renovation of JIS and 22 other stadiums that are currently being planned is one of the efforts to make this happen.
“We are pushing for more and more FIFA-standard stadiums, so when there is a match on the FIFA agenda, they can choose,” he said when met at the Bung Karno Madya Stadium, Jakarta, Thursday, July 6, 2023.
According to Erick, FIFA’s standards are higher than international standards. He took an example from the match between the Indonesian national team and Argentina last month.
A few days before the match started, representatives of Argentina came to check the readiness of the grass at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium which was considered ready to hold one match. In contrast to FIFA standards, said Erick Thohir, grass must be able to be used many times.
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2023-07-06 12:41:00
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