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PSSI to look for other venues over U-17, Coldplay overlap
The PSSI is looking for alternatives to the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, as it is booked for Coldplay's first gig in Indonesia on dates that overlap the first couple of weeks of U-17 World Cup in November, though Jakarta hasn’t been confirmed as the youth tournament’s host city.
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People buy merchandise and take pictures on June 19, 2023, before heading into the Main Stadium at Jakarta’s Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex to watch the Indonesia vs. Argentina FIFA Matchday game. (JP/Radhiyya Indra)
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s the country readies to host this year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup in November, the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) has started hunting for alternative venues, as the Main Stadium at the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Sports Complex is booked for Coldplay’s first-ever concert in Indonesia.
“I’m in no position to say if the Coldplay concert will be pushed back or not, but we will have to sit together [with the relevant parties] to figure out a solution,” PSSI chairman Erick Thohir, who is also the State-owned Enterprises (SOEs) minister, told a press conference on Saturday.
“Both events will be good for Indonesia, and we must not selfishly claim that” soccer takes priority and the concert organizers should stand down, he added.
In a surprise announcement on Friday evening, the world soccer governing body chose Indonesia to replace Peru as the host of this year’s U-17 youth soccer tournament in November.
FIFA revoked Peru’s right to host the U-17 on April 3 because of the country’s inability to complete its sound infrastructure in time for the tournament.
In March, FIFA stripped Indonesia of its hosting right to the 2023 U-20 World Cup, following widespread local resistance to the Israel team’s participation.
Read also: FIFA removes Indonesia as host of U-20
