"FIFA will come here to check which stadium meets its standards. Before FIFA's visit, we will conduct our own inspection first," said Erick Thohir, Chairman of PSSI, at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Monday.
On June 23, 2023, FIFA determined that Indonesia will replace Peru as the host of the U-17 World Cup, which is expected to take place from November 10 to December 2 this year.
Earlier, President Joko Widodo instructed Thohir to consider alternative stadiums for the U-17 World Cup.
Thohir affirmed that the authorities would seek solutions to the stadium issue as Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium will host a concert by the British rock band Coldplay on November 15.
Meanwhile, the head of PSSI said that no renovations will take place at JIS until FIFA concludes its review to determine which aspects of the stadium need improvement.
He added that the government will renovate 22 football stadiums nationwide.
Agreeing with Thohir, the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing, Basuki Hadimuljono, said that his ministry will renovate 22 stadiums. However, JIS will not be among them.
The minister informed that he will meet Thohir and the acting Jakarta governor, Heru Budi Hartono, on Tuesday (July 4) morning to discuss the stadium.
"Based on the latest evaluation, there was a program ready, including for the U-20 (stadiums). However, regarding JIS, we have no assignment for the stadium," Hadimuljono added.
The Youth and Sports Minister, Dito Ariotedjo, said that JIS will be one of several stadiums in Indonesia undergoing optimization.
"The program is not to renovate JIS but to revitalize 22 stadiums in Indonesia. As JIS will be one of the stadiums we will optimize, PSSI will visit the stadium this week," he informed.
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Translator: Desca Lidya N, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Anton Santoso
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