High Rental Fees Also So The Reason The Indonesian National Team Vs Curacao Failed To Be Held At JiS, Anies Baswedan's Proud Stadium

The JIS stadium is the pride of Anies Baswedan. (Photo: Ulfa Gusti/VOI)

JAKARTA - The FIFA Match Day agenda between the Indonesian National Team vs Curacao on 27 September failed to be held at the Jakarta International Stadium (JIS). The cancel event at JIS was due to the All-Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) assessing that the location did not meet FIFA standards.

However, apart from that reason, high rental costs are also a factor.

"Another obstacle is the high cost of renting a stadium. A team like Persija Jakarta also prefers a stadium in Bekasi. Of course, apart from inadequate infrastructure," wrote PSSI.

In fact, PSSI has scheduled the Indonesia vs Curacao match to be held at two Stadiums. The first is at the Bandung Ocean of Fire Stadium (GBLA) on September 24 and the next match will be at JIS for September 27.

However, the second match will certainly not be held at JIS. PSSI actually said that the second match would be held at another location with Pakansari Stadium in Cibinong as the main candidate for the match.

Criticism then arose regarding PSSI's decision which stated that JIS was still not worthy of being the venue for the FIFA Match Day event.

Not a few have linked the change in location from JIS to Pakansari Stadium regarding the intention of the General Chairperson of PSSI, Mochamad Iriawan, who is rumored to be running for the West Java gubernatorial election.

Previously, PSSI had given clarification. They then revealed several points why JIS did not deserve to be used for FIFA matches.

PSSI said that JIS infrastructure was still not fully feasible. This was revealed after PSSI conducted a feasibility test through the inspection of the Infrastructure Safety and Security team which said that the JIS Stadium had not fully fulfilled the infrastructure's feasibility.

PSSI stated that the eastern Concourse could not be used yet, the tidal perimeter needed a re-test, the perimeter fence under the western concourse was not sturdy and supporting infrastructure facilities such as parking bags, public transportation, and access roads to the stadium were not up to standard.

"So to hold a FIFA Match Day match that invites very many audience interest, it is necessary to simulate the number of spectators starting from 25 percent - 50 percent - 75 percent - 100 percent of the maximum safety capacity calculation," said PSSI Secretary General Yunus Nusi in a PSSI statement.

Next is related to supporting facilities that are not up to standard. JIS is claimed to be able to accommodate 80,000 spectators, but problematic with parking capacity.

JIS is claimed to only receive around 800 units of four-wheeled vehicles which are considered very risky and a limited pattern of parking space for large vehicles.

"Besides that, it is related to a low ceiling because the bus cannot enter, it could be that the guest team bus and the home team stop in a public area, not in an area that should have been arranged. Now if we force it, it will definitely be FIFA records," said Yunus.

In addition, access to the stadium is only at one door, and it is feared that it will take a long time and have the opportunity to trigger chaos if all spectators come out at the same time.