U-20 World Cup Stadium Cause Polemic, Menpora Say This

PSSI Chairman Mochamad Iriawan (left) and the Minister of Youth and Sports Zainudin Amali (right). (PSSI)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) is again hit by a polemic. After previously being involved in a drama with the Indonesian national team coach Shin Tae-yong, this time PSSI again made the media busy with the appointment of six stadiums for the upcoming U-20 World Cup in 2021.

Previously, PSSI had sent six stadium names to be used as venues to the World Football Federation (FIFA). The six stadiums are Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (SUGBK), Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium, Manahan Stadium, Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium, Si Jalak Harupat Stadium, and Jakabaring Stadium.

These six stadiums are the result of PSSI verification from the 11 stadiums that have been previously selected. Interestingly, PSSI decided it without coordination with the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kemenpora). This was conveyed by Sesmenpora Gatot S Dewabroto, some time ago. He said, there has been no report from PSSI regarding this matter.

Menpora Zainuddin Amali then spoke up about the polemic of determining the six U-20 World Cup stadiums. According to him, the six stadiums still need approval from FIFA. Indeed, before the COVID-19 pandemic, news had spread that there were names of Pakansari Stadium and Mandala Krida Stadium, which were not chosen.

"We are still waiting for confirmation from FIFA on which six stadiums will be used. Before the pandemic, news had spread that there were the Bung Karno Main Stadium (Jakarta), Pakansari Stadium (Bogor), Manahan Stadium (Solo), Mandala Krida Stadium (Yogyakarta), Stadium Gelora Bung Tomo (Surabaya), and Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium (Bali), "said the Menpora on the official website.

"Then there was another suggestion from PSSI to add 2 more stadiums, namely Si Jalak Harupat Stadium and Jakabaring Stadium," he added.

The man from Gorontalo emphasized that there was no certainty from FIFA regarding the determination of the stadium for the U-20 World Cup venue. He conveyed, FIFA is the only authority that has the authority to determine. So that the government is very careful in responding to this polemic.

"The government does not want to go too deep, because later we will fall into the category of intervention. But we still have to monitor and implement it as well as possible," he said.

Meanwhile, the General Chairperson of PSSI, Mochamad Iriawan, revealed the reason for his party to issue six stadium names that were proffered to FIFA. This step was taken so that the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing could accelerate development.

"So, we gave a letter to FIFA. We explained to the PUPR Ministry, PSSI recommended these six," said Iriawan to the media, yesterday.