JIS Condition Deteriorates, Persija Panpel Accuses Grass Policy of Misdirection

Viralterkini.id, JAKARTA, – Chairman of the Persija Jakarta Organizing Committee (Panpel), Ferry Indrasjarief again highlighted the issue of the condition of the Jakarta International Stadium (JIS) grass, which until now has not been optimal for permanent use.

Ferry brought up the decision to replace the grass made in preparation for the 2023 U-17 World Cup, which he said had a significant impact on the condition of the field to date.

Ferry’s spotlight came after the Minister of Youth and Sports and General Chair of PSSI, Erick Thohir, said that JIS was an asset of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government.

Ferry believes that this statement is not completely in line with the decision in 2023, when the JIS grass will be replaced in the interests of holding the world level tournament.

“How can Persija really use this grass permanently and continuously? However, on the other hand, I also ask, if this is a regional government asset, why was the grass replaced at that time?” said Ferry, questioning the decision, quoted Monday (8/12/2025).

Ferry explained that during the construction of JIS, the Governor of DKI Jakarta at that time, Anies Baswedan, had adjusted the planting media and type of grass to the weather conditions in the North Jakarta area.

According to him, the initial design was part of long-term planning so that the grass could adapt to the tropical climate and humidity conditions around JIS.

However, the decision to change the planting media and type of grass during preparation for the U-17 World Cup meant that the initial design was no longer relevant.

“At that time, Mr. Anies had built a stadium with grass and planting media adapted to conditions in Indonesia. But then everything was overhauled,” said Ferry.

He added that the condition of the grass was no longer ideal, making Persija and related parties have to think about various options to make JIS suitable for use in matches again.

Some of the options being considered include replacing the grass again, changing maintenance methods, or re-evaluating the planting media used.

“Now that it can no longer be used normally, we have to think again about whether it should be replaced again, or the maintenance changed, or what aspect of maintenance we have to study again,” he said.

Apart from the condition of the grass, Ferry also highlighted the lack of clear communication from Jakarta Propertindo (Jakpro) as the stadium manager.

He believes that until now there has been no comprehensive explanation regarding plans for grass restoration, the supporting technology that will be used, and the estimated time when JIS will be ready to be used by Persija again as a home ground.

“If there is any new news from Jakpro, when can it be used and what technology can be used so that the grass can be used quickly? So far, people there have always raised the issue of sunlight,” said Ferry.

However, Ferry believes that the JIS grass problem is not as simple as the lighting factor. He believes that adjusting the type of grass, planting media and maintenance techniques must be the main concern in restoring field conditions.

Therefore, his party encourages an in-depth evaluation to be carried out by truly independent experts.

“When I look at it, it doesn’t look like it’s just that simple. It looks like the type of grass and planting medium are problematic. We have to get a second opinion,” he stressed.

He also suggested that an independent party who is competent in the field of agronomy or a stadium grass specialist should directly carry out an objective assessment.

According to him, this assessment is important so that JIS management does not only depend on internal evaluation, but is also based on professional studies that are free from interests.

“We ask other parties outside JIS to come there. These parties must be truly experts, without any political interests. They must provide a statement about what must be done so that all the teams playing there can easily use it without any damage,” he said.

Ferry emphasized that Persija needed certainty regarding JIS’ readiness, considering that the stadium was designed as the main home ground for the Kemayoran Tigers.

He hopes that a comprehensive evaluation can be carried out in the near future, so that grass improvements can be adjusted to the club’s needs and professional match standards.

Until now, Persija is still waiting for an official decision from Jakpro regarding the concrete steps to be taken.

Technical evaluation and studies by independent parties are considered to be the key in determining whether JIS grass needs to be replaced again or simply repaired through intensive maintenance.

Ferry closed his statement by emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability in the management of public assets such as JIS.

According to him, a stadium as large as JIS must be able to provide the best facilities not only for Persija, but also for various national and international sporting agendas that may be held in the future. (rby)