PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir Puts All Hands on Deck Before FIFA Inspects U-20 Stadiums in Indonesia

JAKARTADAILY.ID - PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir announced that FIFA would be conducting inspections on the stadiums that will be used for the U-20 World Cup in 15 days' time. The chairman said he will be putting all hands on deck to ensure the inspections go smoothly.

Erick mentions that FIFA has the power to cancel the use of a stadium that has been prepared by Indonesia to be used for the U-20 World Cup.

With this power, according to Erick, FIFA can reduce the number of stadiums from 6 to 4. FIFA can also reduce the number of training stadiums from 4 to fewer.

The FIFA regulation has come to the attention of the General Chair of PSSI because the highest football organization will carry out inspections of all designated stadiums on March 21-28 2023.

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If the FIFA inspection team finds that requirements have not been met, they can cross out the stadium.

On that basis, Erick emphasized, his party would inspect all the prepared stadiums.

PSSI will go directly to examine every detail of the lack of facilities.

According to him, all parties must go directly because FIFA's assessment time is only 15 days later.

"We are representatives from the LOC, FIFA representatives, the central government, and regional governments to come down together to check for deficiencies individually. So that later on the 21st, which is only 15 days away, no one will regret continuing to blame PSSI for being incompetent," he said.

This was conveyed by Erick after holding an operational, security, and safety preparation meeting for the U-20 World Cup, Monday, March 6, 2023.

The meeting was attended by PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir, Vice Chairman Ratu Tisha, and FIFA representatives.

During the meeting, FIFA gave information about the possibility of reducing the stadium for matches.

"What surprised me is that FIFA will drop from six match locations to four stadiums if it is deemed inappropriate. And the training field can also be reduced. We certainly don't want this," said Erick.