The Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X emphasized that Maguwoharjo Stadium in Sleman Regency can be used by all football teams, including PSIM Yogyakarta.
This was conveyed by Sultan HB X at Kepatihan, Yogyakarta, Thursday, in response to the lack of certainty regarding the stadium as PSIM's temporary home for the 2025/26 BRI Super League.
"Yes, it's up to the regional government (Sleman). How can they build a stadium just for their own people? Sleman is part of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, right? It's not free. How can they rent it to someone outside of Yogyakarta, but PSIM can't? There's no logic to it," said Sultan.
According to the Sultan, the use of stadiums should not be limited based on administrative areas.
He said that stadiums funded by public funds, including the state budget, should be used for public interests, not exclusively for residents of certain districts.
"For example, at Mandala Krida Stadium, only the city (PSIM) is allowed to play. That's not the case. That's for the public interest," said the King of the Yogyakarta Palace.
The Sultan added that stadium use need not be a problem as long as the rental process is carried out officially and transparently.
" It 's not free, but if it were free, that would be a different matter," he added.
The Sultan also considered it unreasonable that the stadium could be rented by parties from outside the DIY region, but clubs from the city of Yogyakarta were actually refused.
"Yes, actually, anyone who wants to compete there, from Papua or anywhere else, is allowed to compete. Why shouldn't Yogyakarta be allowed, or Kota be allowed? It's illogical. It's too narrow -minded," he said.
For this reason, the Sultan encouraged communication between the Sleman Regency Government and related parties so that the problem could be resolved immediately through deliberation.
