Stay Inspection Of The 2023 U-20 World Cup Stadium, FIFA Representatives Can't Confirm Indonesia's Status As Host

FIFA representative from Team Project Venue Management, Christian Schmolzer, was inspecting the Captain I Wayan Dipta Stadium, Gianyar, Bali. (Photo via Antara/Genta Tenri Mawangi)

JAKARTA - In the midst of hot issues related to Indonesia's host status for the 2023 U-20 World Cup, FIFA continues to conduct inspections of several stadiums that will become match venues.

On Monday, March 27, representatives of FIFA continued to directly check the readiness of the Captain I Wayan Dipta Stadium in Gianyar, Bali. The FIFA group consisting of 18 people plus about 20 LOC and INAFOC staff arrived at the Captain I Wayan Dipta Stadium at around 10.00 WITA.

They immediately entered the Bali United Cafe room for a briefing with the FIFA Team Project Venue Management, Christian Schmolzer.

"Despite the cancellation of Bali as the draw location (U-20 World Cup), we continue and complete stadium inspections," Schmolzer said during an initial briefing session to inspection teams from FIFA, LOC, and INAFOC.

On that occasion, Schmolzer emphasized that he could not confirm whether Indonesia would continue to act as the host of the 2023 U-20 World Cup or not because so far the official FIFA stance is only limited to canceling Bali as an official drawing location.

"So once again, we have no information about the continuation of the tournament (in Indonesia, ed)," he said as quoted by Antara, Monday, March 27.

In the last check session which lasted about two hours, the inspection team was accompanied by stadium managers, including Captain I Wayan Dipta Stadium Manager Richie Kurniawan and LOC Head of Kapten I Wayan Dipta I Stadium Ketut Suantika.

In this activity, PSSI Deputy General Chair II Ratu Thasha Destria and PSSI Bali Asprov General Chair I Ketut Suardana were also present.

From about 40 members of the inspection, Schmolzer divided them into five groups, namely to check stadium management and security, marketing and competition, then media, broadcast (broadcast), IT, and technology, then visitor operations, and finally accreditation.

"We came directly here to check and confirm with LOC as well as local authorities about several things, including stadium governance, entry and exit flow, and parking area," said the FIFA representative.

The FIFA inspection team also examined each area in the stadium along with its designation, technical rules for seating arrangements, and areas for match broadcasting.

In the checking session, Schmolzer directly inspected the parking area at the Captain I Wayan Dipta Stadium, the field, and the spectator stands.

On the sidelines of the inspection, the process of sewing synthetic rope grass to grassroots at the Captain I Wayan Dipta Stadium field is still ongoing.