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U-20 soccer World Cup may take place behind closed doors in 2021: Minister
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo announced earlier that Indonesia would host the three-week competition despite the pandemic.
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Si Jalak Harupat soccer stadium in Soreang, Bandung regency, West Java is among stadiums inspected by Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) chief Comr. Gen. M. Iriawan as part of preparations for the U-20 World Cup slated to be held in six provinces across Indonesia in 2021. (Antaranews/Bagus Ahmad Rizaldi)
T
he 2021 U-20 Soccer World Cup, which Indonesia will host for the first time, may take place behind closed doors due to the pandemic, a minister has said.
Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali said the government would soon announce whether spectators would be allowed inside the stadiums during the matches next year as authorities monitored the pandemic.
"We need to assess the situation in May and June," Amali said on Tuesday.
"We'll implement [strict] health protocols based on guidelines set by the National COVID-19 task force and FIFA," he went on, adding that authorities should also take into account whether coronavirus vaccines -- if available – were distributed evenly at that time next year.
Amali further ensured that the government would put public health as its main priority during the event.
There was also possibility that spectators would be able to fill the stadium at half capacity. The decision, Amali said, would lay in FIFA's hands.
Read also: Jokowi establishes FIFA U-20 World Cup organizing committee to expedite preparations
"FIFA will have the authority to decide the matter based on the conditions in May 2021," he said as quoted by kompas.com.
Six stadiums will host the matches, namely Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, Manahan Stadium in Surakarta, Central Java; Bung Tomo Stadium in Surabaya, East Java; and Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium in Gianyar, Bali; Sriwijaya Stadium in Palembang; South Sumatra and Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung, West Java.
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo announced earlier that Indonesia would host the three-week competition despite the pandemic.
"We have to convince [other countries] that Indonesia has set strict health protocols [for the event] so our country is very safe for visits and hosting the 2021 U-20 soccer World Cup," he said on Tuesday.
As of Tuesday, Indonesia recorded a total of 368,842 coronavirus cases, with 293,653 recoveries and 12,734 fatalities. (nal)
