BANGKOK (6 Nov 2012) – Following concerns over safety of spectators, the multi-million Bangkok Futsal Arena will play no part in the on-going FIFA Futsal World Cup.
While FIFA acknowledged the effort of the local organisers in working round the clock to get the venue ready for the quarter-final matches onwards, thesafety of spectators, teams and all other visitors to the stadium are of paramount importance.
“Following the report submitted by this group, a decision was taken today by the FIFA Futsal Committee, that the BFA will not be ready to host the six matches on 14, 16 and 18 November,” stated FIFA on their website.
Initially, the plan was for the Bangkok Futsal Arena to host matches from the quarter-finals onwards provided that the playing surface at the THB 1.3billion (USD ) arena was completed. FIFA had also ordered reducing number of seats from 12,000 to 10,000 and closed the fifth floor for safety reasons.
But while FIFA admitted that significant progress has been made, including the installation of a pitch, the key criteria laid out following the committee’s meeting on 31 October have not been sufficiently met.
The quarter-final matches scheduled to be played on 14 November will now be played at Bangkok’s Nimibutr Stadium, whilst the semi-finals and final will be hosted at Bangkok’s Indoor Stadium Huamark.
Tickets that have been bought for the six scheduled matches at the Bangkok Futsal Arena will be valid at the new match venues.
