Irbid, July 13 (Petra) -- Major infrastructural defects dating back to a 2016 renovation have delayed the rehabilitation of the Al-Hassan Stadium in Irbid, Minister of Youth Raed Adwan said on Monday.
Speaking at a meeting with local pro league football clubs, Adwan said that the ministry is expanding the scope of work to completely overhaul the stadium's infrastructure to meet Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and international standards.
The meeting was attended by the Vice President of the Jordan Football Association (JFA) Marwan Jumaa, Irbid Governor Firas Abu Al-Ghanam, and various local sports and industry officials.
Adwan explained that while the initial government-tendered project only required excavating 30 centimeters to change the topsoil and natural turf, subsequent technical inspections revealed deep systemic issues. Contractors must now dig down 1.1 to 1.2 meters to replace flawed foundations installed during the 2015-2016 renovation.
A technical committee involving the Royal Scientific Society and the Ministry of Public Works identified a faulty drainage network beneath the pitch. The defect caused seasonal waterlogging, which triggered recurring turf diseases and forced the stadium to close for two to three months every year.
The minister stated that legal measures are being pursued regarding the non-compliant work carried out in the previous decade, adding that extra funds have been allocated to ensure the facility's long-term sustainability. The full overhaul is expected to take around 120 days.
JFA Vice President Jumaa said the football association will coordinate closely with the ministry to monitor construction milestones and arrange alternative venues for the upcoming first-leg matches of the local league.
Club presidents from regional teams, including Amer Abu Obeid of Al-Hussein Irbid, Khaled Al-Zoubi of Al-Ramtha, Khaled Al-Shloul of Doqarah, and Youssef Al-Khasawneh of Al-Arabi, backed the expanded repair strategy.
However, the club officials urged authorities to provide alternative training pitches in northern Jordan and requested financial assistance to mitigate the economic losses resulting from the stadium's closure.
//Petra// AF
