SUGBK Grass Damaged After Blackpink Concert, Erick Thohir: Directors Respond To Improvements

Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the 2023 U-20 World Cup who is also the Chairman of PSSI, Erick Thohir, while examining the quality of SUGBK grass, Monday, March 13, 2023. (Photo: Doc. PSSI)

The condition of grass at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (SUGBK) looks damaged at several points after being used for two days for the Blackpink concert, last weekend. The most obvious damage occurred on the west side.

At that location, some grass was seen being removed from its place so that the soil was clearly visible. In addition, the grass also looks striped and yellowed because it was closed for several days.

Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the 2023 U-20 World Cup (LOC), Erick Thohir, has asked the manager that the field conditions are in good condition again when FIFA conducts a final inspection of the 2023 U-20 World Cup preparation final.

"Yes, the GBK directors have agreed for the improvement," said Erick Thohir during a visit on Monday, March 13, 2023.

The parent of international football (FIFA) will conduct a final audit of FIFA on March 21-27, 2023. If there is a stadium that is not up to standard, FIFA will definitely cross it out.

"Of course we will accompany (for treatment). We will also not leave the board of directors (SUBK alone). The complexity of caring for this grass is not like in our yard. I also see that FIFA standards are getting higher day by day. This is the perception that must be the same," he said.

Meanwhile, President Director of the Bung Karno Complex Management Center (PPK GBK) Rakhmadi Afif Kusumo said the problem faced by his party was the event held at the magnificent stadium.

"There is only one problem in Jakarta, not to use it again for the next two months, because this grass grows so that later in around the third week of March there will be cesting. What is said to be a hybrid, which is sticing. So, six fields must be standard FIFA and that must be cleaned up," said Rakhmadi.

He then explained that scysing is the process of sewing synthesis grass into the original grass. "For the operation only a week, but the preparation should not be like before, some are bald," he said.

"Therefore, the original grass must be stable first. To stabilize it takes a month. Previously, Jakarta was number one, but we shifted it to number three. If there was an event it would be shifted again. So please PSSI there will be no more events," continued the Director of PPK GBK.

Previously, news had emerged about the possibility of FIFA removing two of the six stadiums that would be used later. However, Erick insisted that it would not happen.

The 2023 U-20 World Cup will be held from May 20-June 11 in six cities. Apart from Jakarta, other stadiums that will be used are Gelora Sriwijaya (Palembang), I Wayan Dipta (Bali), Mahanan (Solo), Si Jalak Harupat (Bandung), and Bung Tomo (Surabaya).

A total of 24 countries have confirmed themselves to qualify and will compete in the final round later. That includes Indonesia getting automatic tickets because of its host status.

Group draw will be held on March 31 in Bali. Indonesia is automatically included in Group A of the age group competition.