All audited stadiums' renovation based on FIFA's standards: govt

Jakarta (ANTARA) - All football stadiums currently being audited by the government will be renovated and rebuilt in accordance with FIFA's standards, Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali informed the media crew here Friday.

The minister, however, did not specifically mention which stadiums will be renovated.

However, after the survey with the Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono at Kanjuruhan Stadium, the government agreed that the audit process will focus on stadiums generally used for the national football league competition.

The audit also focuses on stadiums with a general attendance of a large number of spectators.

Amali made assurance that the renovation will align with FIFA's standards, including the use of single seats. Currently, only some stadiums in Indonesia have single seat facility.

These stadiums include the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, Manahan Solo Stadium, GElora Bung Tomo Stadium, Papua Bangkit Stadium, I Wayang Dipta Stadium, and Gelora Bandung Lautan Api Stadium.

"Our temporary projection is that Kanjuruhan Stadium will be similar to Manahan Solo Stadium since Manahan has already been inspected by FIFA," he noted.

"This is still being planned. It may begin next year. Hence, clubs that use those stadiums, whether Liga 1, Liga 2, and Liga 3, have to look for other places until it (the renovation) is complete," he added.

Amali and Hadimuljono visited Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang, East Java, on Thursday. According to the audit results, several points had become the main considerations for the total renovation process.

These points include the lack of stairs in the economic stands for spectators, doors in the stadium, and the lack of emergency doors.

These also include lighting in the stadium area, improper restroom for spectators, buffer perimeter for spectators, and guardrail that spectators can easily jump over.

The renovation is also undertaken as a follow up to FIFA's direction through its letter to President Joko Widodo to develop the stadium's security standards in Indonesia.

The joint independent fact-finding team (TGIPF) also provided its recommendation to Haldimuljono's ministry to conduct comprehensive renovation of all football stadiums, specifically ones used for Liga 1 and Liga 2 based on FIFA's safety standards.

All financing for the total renovation of Kanjuruhan Stadium will utilize fund from the state budget. However, the amount of funding required for the renovation had yet to be established. (*)