Indonesia to demolish stadium where stampede killed 133

The President said that the replacement stadium will have “proper facilities that can ensure the safety of both players and supporters.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has announced that his government will demolish and rebuild a football stadium in the city of Malang where 133 people died in a stampede this month.

President Jokowi revealed the development while addressing the media at the state palace after meeting Gianni Infantino, the head of FIFA.

He also announced the same through his Twitter handle saying, “Met FIFA President Gianni Infantino today at the palace. We discussed various important matters related to Indonesian football, especially after the tragedy of the Kanjuruhan Stadium. The government and FIFA agreed to carry out a complete transformation of Indonesian football.”

Bertemu Presiden FIFA, Gianni Infantino hari ini di istana. Kami berdiskusi tentang berbagai hal penting terkait sepak bola Indonesia, terutama setelah tragedi Stadion Kanjuruhan.

Pemerintah dan FIFA sepakat untuk melakukan transformasi sepak bola Indonesia secara menyeluruh. pic.twitter.com/NlA8QxykKL

— Joko Widodo (@jokowi) October 18, 2022

He added, “The transformation is to ensure that all aspects of the match run according to the safety standards set by FIFA, including ensuring the safety of players and spectators. The government together with FIFA will also review Indonesian football stakeholders.”

In one of the world’s deadliest sporting disasters, more than 130 people were killed in a deadly stampede on October 1 as supporters were attempting to flee the stadium after the police fired tear gas at a match between Arema FC and rivals Persebaya Surabaya.

More than 40 children were among those killed in the city of Malang, East Java on October 1.

Meanwhile, the President said that the replacement stadium will have “proper facilities that can ensure the safety of both players and supporters, adding that they would reform and transform football in the country.

Following the incident, three police officers along with 3 other people have been charged over the tragedy. It was also found that more than three hours of footage from CCTV in the main lobby and parking area of the stadium went missing.

An investigation task force has called on the country’s football association chief and all of its executive committee members to resign.

COMMENTS