Heru Budi Asks FIFA To Check JIS Feasibility For The U-17 World Cup

Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono (Diah Ayu/VOI)

JAKARTA - Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono admitted that he would ask FIFA to directly check the feasibility of the Jakarta International Stadium (JIS) as the U-17 World Cup venue.

According to Heru, the lack of JIS infrastructure, which is the most highlighted, is the access road and entry and exit of spectators. So far, the available JIS access is only at the western ramp.

Meanwhile, the eastern ramp side of JIS has not yet been opened to the public because access to the solution is not adequate. Therefore, Heru will ask for opinions from the parent organization of the world football regarding the best option to improve access for its audience.

"If access to the stadium already exists from the parking lot. Additional access to the audience is to get out of the car, so get out of the car. Access is now two doors. We ask FIFA to check. Well, other access must be from behind, side, or from the lake (on the east side of JIS)," said Heru at DKI Jakarta City Hall, Monday, July 3.

At the same time, Heru said that he would also immediately check JIS with PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono with SOE Minister Erick Thohir who is also PSSI General Chair.

"I schedule tomorrow with the Minister of PUPR with the Minister of SOEs to check (JIS). If I don't know, I'm not an expert," said Heru.

Heru added that the planning for the construction of the KRL Commuter Line station which is located next to JIS also continues to process. The addition of JIS stations is carried out to facilitate access for visitors using public transportation.

"(JIS Station) is in process, the road kick. Because it intersects with the toll road, this is what you have to think about," he said.

The U-17 World Cup is scheduled to be held from November 10 to December 2. Regarding the use of venues or stadiums, until now FIFA has not checked.

Gelora Bung Karno Stadium has a small possibility to hold the opening of the U-17 World Cup due to clashes with the Coldplay band concert agenda, which previously obtained permission to use the concert which will be held on November 15.

JIS is one of the stadiums that is an option for the U-17 World Cup venue. However, JIS' access as a place for large-scale matches is not sufficient. Regarding that, Menpora Dito Ariotedjo explained in detail the problems related to JIS renovation.

"Regarding JIS, there are many polemics, so many parties have different opinions. But the real principle is that regarding the stadium, there are not only JIS, there are 22 Indonesian stadiums that we will focus on, we will see from which access needs to be improved, renovated, and perfected, we can see," said Dito Ariotedjo in a statement received on Sunday, July 2.

Furthermore, Dito said that JIS and a number of stadiums in the country are actually multifunctional means that are not only intended for football. Therefore, the tightness needs to be optimized in order to meet all standards to hold international events.

"This stadium is multifunctional, not only balls can also be athletics there, so we want 22 stadiums throughout Indonesia in the future, we make sure that all of these are technically optimized and also in terms of specifications. All we have to make sure that we have to meet all the standards needed in organizing national events, both standards from federations from international athletics, from international football federations, and other international federations, "explained Dito.

Regarding JIS, Dito said this stadium is very good and even has a appearance like in Europe. However, Dito assessed that JIS still had problems.

"JIS kita akui adalah stadion yang sangat baik, kita kalau masuk stadion saja itu seperti feel-nya sudah seperti kaya di Eropa. Tapi memang, kita harus berani mengakui ada catatan perbaikan dan kita perfectkan dalam rangka event internasional nanti dihadiri baik itu dari tamu negara asing, dan lokal. Ini memastikan tidak ada kendala-kendala," imbuhnya.