AFC's envoy upset about Siliwangi stadium's condition
AFC's envoy upset about Siliwangi stadium's condition
BANDUNG (JP): The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) warned
Persib Bandung yesterday that visiting players would likely
refuse to play unless the club upgraded facilities at Siliwangi
stadium.
AFC envoy R.I. Indran said in a meeting with Persib following
a visit yesterday to the Siliwangi stadium, the site of the Asian
Championship League Group East quarterfinals at the end of this
month, that players are allowed to strike if they are not
satisfied with the facilities provided by a host.
Indran expressed his disappointment over the stadium's
condition and the facilities available there. He said that
neither the turf on the playing field, nor the players' locker
rooms at the 30,000-seat stadium met international standards.
Indran also criticized the lack of a press room at the stadium.
The Secretary-General of the All-Indonesia Football
Association (PSSI), Soeparjo Pontjowinoto, accompanied Indran
during the one-day trip to the capital city of West Java.
The Malaysian envoy said AFC would give Persib time to upgrade
the stadium.
"I'll be back here to look at what they have done," Indran
said. He did not say when he would return to Bandung.
On Wednesday, AFC named Persib the host of the round-robin
matches, scheduled for Nov. 26-Nov. 30. The Group East
quarterfinals will see Persib, South Korean champion Ilhwa
Chunma, Japan champion Verdy Kawasaki and Cup holder Thai Farmers
in the fray. The top two teams will meet their counterparts from
Group West in the semifinals.
Soeparjo had earlier suggested that Persib hold the
quarterfinals at the Senayan stadium in Jakarta. The 32-year-old
stadium has 110,000 seats, almost three times as many as
Siliwangi.
Another PSSI official, Max Boboy, supported Persib's choice of
the Silawangi stadium. "Persib are just facing minor problems.
Everything is up to Persib now," Boboy said.
AFC plans to pay the host team US$50,000 in exchange for the
TV rights. (pet/amd)