In the aftermath of one of the worst football stadium tragedies in the history of the sport, the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), along with the sport’s governing body FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), have launched a task force to improve stadium safety in Indonesia.
At least 131 people were killed the night of October 1 during a domestic Liga 1 match between rivals Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya at Kanjuruhan Stadium in East Java. More than 300 people were injured.
A stampede began after police fired tear gas when fans came onto the pitch after the home team Arema FC lost to Persebaya Surabaya. This resulted in a panic and caused fans to rush for the exits. Using tear gas to control crowds is a strict violation of FIFA safety regulations. Six people, including police officers and match organizers have been arrested in the weeks following the tragedy.
On Thursday FIFA and AFC delegates met with Indonesian government officials and PSSI President Mochamad Iriawan in Jakarta to discuss the matter. The task force will review safety arrangement and look to restore confidence in Indonesia’s ability to host future events.
All Liga 1 domestic matches were suspended after the tragedy. The league has yet to restart. Indonesian President Joko Widodo said all matches will be suspended until an investigation is finished. Arema FC will not be allowed to host any home matches.
“This meeting is not an investigation but rather an initiation of assistance to transform and advance Indonesia football, especially with the help and support of safety and security experts from FIFA and the AFC,” said Iriawan.
“We believe that, through the joint efforts of all stakeholders, together we will recover stronger to ensure Indonesia is a safe place for football and capable of hosting major international events.”
The AFC has publicly stated they are willing to assist in anyway to prevent future incidents from happening.
Indonesia is scheduled to host the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2023 and is one of three countries bidding to host the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. FIFA has not commented if they will strip Indonesia of their U-20 World Cup hosting rights.
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