JAKARTA - The International Football Federation (FIFA) has canceled the draw agenda or the 2023 U-20 World Cup draw. The agenda should be held in Bali on March 31.
This FIFA move is believed to be related to the rejection of the Israeli team's participation. One of them is from the Governor of Bali, I Wayan Koster, who has sent a letter to the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kemenpora) expressing Israel's objection to playing in Bali.
FIFA's decision has drawn concerns among national football lovers. There is a fear that Indonesia will lose its status as host of the 2023 U-20 World Cup.
So far, there has been no official statement from FIFA regarding Indonesia's status as the host of the 2023 U-20 World Cup. In addition, FIFA is also still conducting inspection activities on match venues.
On Sunday, March 26, FIFA conducted a final inspection to ensure the readiness of the Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium (GBT) Surabaya ahead of the grand event.
Head of the Surabaya City Culture, Youth and Sports and Tourism Office (Disbudporapar), Wiwiek Widayati, said FIFA representatives checked several stadium facilities.
"The checks were carried out based on the results of the previous FIFA recommendations," Wiwiek said in a written statement, as quoted from Antara, Monday, March 27.
According to him, the FIFA representatives immediately toured and reviewed every corner of the GBT Stadium as well as the A and C support fields.
A number of facilities at the stadium did not escape checking FIFA such as the players' changing room, field grass to the media room which is a supporting facility for the implementation of the U-20 World Cup.
Not only that, he said, FIFA also asked for ticket sales, parking flow including who would use parking on the north side of the GBT which is now being repaired, as well as a parking boarding pass.
The FIFA group checked the field to be used for training, namely Gelora 10 November (G10N) Field and Gelora Pancasila Surabaya.
Overall, continued Wiwiek, the readiness of the GBT Stadium and a number of training fields is quite good, including supporting facilities such as electricity supply to parking access.
"We also ensure that the entrance is for supporters again. So that's what we discussed earlier," he said.
Especially for supporting fields, Wiwiek said, if FIFA still provides a number of small notes that must be followed up immediately.
"There have been slight changes, but not majors, yesterday's things have been conveyed. So, we are more about adjustments," he said.
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