The Indonesian National Team Against Burundi And The Persija Vs Persib Postponement Match Are Confirmed Not To Be Held At SUGBK

PSSI General Chair Erick Thohir. (Photo: Doc. PSSI)

PSSI General Chair Erick Thohir confirmed that the FIFA Matchday match between the Indonesian national team and Burundi will not take place at the Gelora Bung Karno (SUGBK) Main Stadium, Senayan, Jakarta. Likewise with Persija Jakarta's postponed match against Persib Bandung.

The proud stadium of Indonesia is currently being prepared for the 2023 U-20 World Cup. The big event is only a matter of months so it is impossible to use it for other events.

"Later we will look for a field [at a match between Indonesia and Burundi]. There are many fields in Indonesia," said Erick when inspecting the SUGBK field on Monday, March 13, 2023.

Indonesia against Burundi will take place on March 25 and 28. There was a discourse that the match would be held at the stadium with a capacity of more than 80 thousand.

However, the exception for this time because the focus of the current SUBK is the improvement in welcoming the U-20 World Cup later. Moreover, the field was only used for Blackpink concerts for two days last weekend.

After the event, the grass was seen striped and yellowed because it was closed for several days. On the west side of the field, some of the grass even seemed to be scattered from its place.

Erick said that because the World Cup event was so close that the SUBK could no longer be used for any event.

"All of our events do not discriminate, both entertainment and sports are no longer possible. This is not a matter of wrong and right choice, but this is a policy that we must take if we do not want to fail. Moreover, the opening is here," he said.

SUGBK is one of six stadiums to be used for the U-20 World Cup which will take place from May 20 to June 11. FIFA will also conduct a final inspection on March 21-27.

It is possible that the deletion of two of the six stadiums is still open if it does not meet the standards set by the parent of international football.