According to Indonesian President Joko Widodo, the football stadium where 133 people died in a stampede earlier this month, making it one of the deadliest sporting tragedies in history, will be demolished and rebuilt.
After meeting with Gianni Infantino, the head of FIFA, the president, also known as Jokowi, addressed the media on Tuesday at the state palace in Jakarta. Jokowi declared that they will demolish the Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang and reconstruct it by FIFA standards. He used another term for football and said that they promised to completely change Indonesian soccer.
Following the defeat of the local team Arema FC against Persebaya Surabaya on October 1, supporters trying to leave Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang, East Java province, were caught in a fatal crush. Asphyxiation claimed the lives of many people, including over 40 youngsters. After an investigation, authorities concluded in a report last week that the primary reason for the event was the police’s use of tear gas inside the stadium, a method of crowd control that FIFA forbids. As terrified fans rushed to flee gates that numerous witnesses reported Al Jazeera were either shut or barred by police, the choking gas clouds started the stampede.
Other variables cited in the investigation include overcrowding at the stadium, sealed exits, and league officials’ drive to play the game at night to boost ratings for a local broadcaster despite a request by the police to play the fierce rivals during the day. On fundamental changes to the way the sport was run in Indonesia, Jokowi claimed he had reached an understanding with Infantino. The two met after Indonesia and FIFA decided to establish a joint task group in the wake of the tragedy at the stadium and as the nation gets ready to host the Under-20 World Cup in 2019.
Together with Jokowi, Infantino stated that the safety of the players and spectators in the nation was FIFA’s priority. The speaker stated that football is a passion for over 100 million people in this country. They owe it to them that they are safe and comfortable while they watch a match. Infantino said the organization will work closely with the government to ensure that all venues satisfied safety regulations and that the 2023 Under-20 World Cup went without a hitch. He also gave Jokowi a red FIFA jersey with his name on it.
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