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U-20 World Cup may take place behind closed doors
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo announced earlier that Indonesia would host the three-week competition despite the pandemic.
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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.
"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 Wednesday, Indonesia recorded a total of 373,109 coronavirus cases, with 297,509 recoveries and 12,857 fatalities. (nal)
