President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, asked stakeholders to immediately meet FIFA standards. He conveyed when holding a limited meeting related to Indonesia’s preparations to host the FIFA U20 World Cup in 2023, Thursday (8/9), at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta.
Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora) Zainudin Amali said that the Head of State gave direction to the ranks to immediately meet the qualifications and standards set by FIFA.
“Mr. President has decided for us, the relevant ministers, to immediately take steps, to fulfill what FIFA wants so that this becomes a standard. For example, repairing the grass, then repairing lighting which was already ready, but because of the delay, there are shortcomings,” he said at the Presidential Palace, Thursday (8/9/2022).
As is known, Indonesia has been designated as the host of the FIFA U20 World Cup in 2021. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic situation, FIFA has postponed the event until 2023.
Menpora also stated that FIFA appreciates the commitment of the Indonesian government in preparing itself to host the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
“Even the regions because these are located in six provinces and the commitments conveyed by the governors and regents as mayors as host city agreements are also well appreciated by FIFA,” he said.
Meanwhile, PSSI General Chair Mochammad Iriawan who participated in the meeting said that the current composition of U20 players was 36 players.
Iriawan also reported on the development of plans for the naturalization of several national team players.
“There are seven naturalized players that we will probably hire to their country in the Netherlands because all of them are from the Netherlands. Two are certain, five of which we are exploring. The president said that there was no problem because it was a request from the coach,” he said.
On that occasion, Iriawan also asked for government support to grant permission to use several fields for soccer players’ training. According to Iriawan, currently, only one field can be used for training.
“We hope that the management can give it to us so that it can be used and we are ready to contribute perhaps according to what other people do,” said Iriawan.
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