President of Indonesia Joko Widodo has stated that his government will demolish and rebuild a football stadium where 133 people died in a stampede in October in one of the world’s deadliest sporting disasters.
Joko, best known as Jokowi, made the remark at the state palace in Jakarta after meeting head of world football governing body FIFA, Gianni Infantino.
The President said “Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang … we will demolish it and rebuild according to FIFA standards”.
He added that “We agreed to thoroughly transform Indonesian soccer”.
It could be recalled that on October 1, 2022, fans were caught in a deadly crush as they attempted to exit Kanjuruhan Stadium in East Java province’s Malang city after the defeat of the home side Arema FC by Persebaya Surabaya. Official reports had it that many, including more than 40 minors, died of asphyxiation.
Officials concluded in a report recently published after an investigation that the leading cause behind the incident was the police’s use of tear gas in the stadium – a crowd control measure banned by FIFA.
Witnesses told newsmen that the clouds of choking gas triggered the stampede as panicked spectators rushed to exit gates which were either locked or blocked by police.
Also, the report identified other contributing factors, including the stadium being filled beyond capacity, locked exit doors and a push by league officials to hold the game at night to secure better ratings for a local broadcaster, despite a request by police to hold a match between the fierce rivals during the daytime.
In his remark, President Jokowi said he had agreed with Infantino on significant changes to how the sport was managed in Indonesia.
According to reports, the meeting between the two came after Indonesia and FIFA agreed to form a joint task force in the wake of the stadium tragedy, and as the country prepares to host the Under-20 World Cup next year.
Infantino said FIFA’s first priority was to ensure the safety of both players and fans in the country.
He said “This is a football country, a country where football is a passion for over 100 million people,” adding that “We owe it to them that when they see a match they are safe and secure.”
The FIFA boss said the body would work closely with the government to ensure all stadiums met safety requirements, and that 2023’s Under-20 World Cup ran smoothly.
