PSSI Appreciates Pope Francis' Grand Mass Panpel Not Disturbing The Maintenance Of SUGBK Grass

Maintenance of SUGBK Grass for the Indonesia vs Australia national team match in the 2026 World Cup Qualification (Instagram/@love_gbk).

JAKARTA - PSSI General Chairperson (Ketum), Erick Thohir, appreciated the performance of the organizing committee (panpel) for the implementation of the Pope Francis Mass. The event is scheduled to take place at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (SUGBK).

Amazingly, this activity was prepared without disrupting the stadium grass maintenance process.

Erick Thohir said that PSSI had communicated intensely with the panpel of Mass Akbar which will be held on Thursday, September 5, 2024 and the manager of SUGBK. The reason is, it is known that the main field is indeed being prepared to hold the 2026 World Cup Qualification match against Australia on September 10, 2024.

Before the 2026 World Cup Qualification Third Round was held, apparently there was another agenda outside of football which also used the same location. So, Erick Thohir had admitted that he was worried that the grass would be damaged.

"I communicated with the committee. That we wanted to shift the match to Gelora Bung Tomo. However, it turned out from the information from the committee that they (the Pope Francis Mass) were extraordinary, did not want to interfere with the course of Indonesian football," said Erick Thohir quoted on Wednesday, September 4, 2024.

"So, yes, the latest information, I thank the committee, to the Diocese of all who have indeed collaborated between the arrival of figures and football. This can collaborate so that grass preparation is still going well to this day," he said.

Furthermore, Erick Thohir conveyed that the public's interest in supporting the Indonesian national team is very high at this time. Therefore, the slightest thing about preparing for matches such as grass can be a broad concern.

Previously, PSSI was heavily criticized because SUGBK grass was not in the best condition during the Second Round of 2026 World Cup Qualifiers to host Vietnam and Iraq.

"Because of that, I also told you at that time how Gelora Bung Karno had to dress himself up on grass. You see, this is a big event," he said.

The chairman of PSSI explained that his party would review the readiness of the SUGBK grass on September 7, 2024, ahead of the match between the Indonesian national team vs Australia.

"Later, the Secretary General and I will check in the field, maybe on 7 or 8 (September 2024) to ensure good quality," said Erick Thohir.