By Andrew Warshaw
November 7 – FIFA has dramatically ditched plans to use Bangkok’s showpiece $40 million (£25 million/€31 million) Futsal Arena during the current Futsal World Cup in Thailand, deeming the venue unsafe after missing several construction deadlines.
World football’s governing body said it could not compromise “such a fundamental issue” as security of teams and fans.
FIFA repeatedly extended deadlines that local organisers could not fulfil, blaming delays on heavy rain and flooding.
The announcement came with the indoor tournament’s group stage already under way and only eight days before the Futsal Arena (pictured top), which was supposed to have been the pride of the event, was due to host two quarterfinal ties followed by the semi-finals and final.
“Although further significant progress has been made, including the installation of a pitch, the key criteria laid out on October 31…have not been sufficiently met,” FIFA said in a statement.
“The safety of spectators, teams and all other visitors to the stadium are of paramount importance.
“FIFA and the Local Organising Committee therefore concluded that such a fundamental issue, as well as the functionality of core services and facilities, cannot be compromised.”
FIFA said the November 18 final and both semi-finals will now be played at Hua Mark Indoor Stadium (pictured above) in Bangkok, with quarterfinals rescheduled at Nimibutr Stadium.
Twenty-four teams are taking part in the prestige indoor version of the sport, which, like the main World Cup, takes place every four years.
FIFA’s decision was a major slap in the face for the organisers, who had named the arena, situated in the Nong Chok District on the outskirts of the capital, as the main venue.
When authorities failed to meet the initial deadline, the venue was ruled out for group games but now won’t be used at all.
Supachai Tantikhom, the arena director, blamed the situation on Government delays in approving the budget for construction.
“We did everything that FIFA requested, except some small issues,” he said.
“The reason we were unable to finish construction on time was the delay in budget approval that caused a lot of problems for us from the beginning.”
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