The Indonesian Kanjuruhan stadium in Malang, where more than 130 people died during a crowd movement in early October, will be demolished and then rebuilt, the president of this Southeast Asian country announced on Tuesday (October 18th). , Joko Widodo.
“We will demolish it and rebuild it according to FIFA standards, with appropriate facilities that can ensure the safety of players and fans”Mr. Widodo told the press after meeting the president of the International Federation of Football Association (FIFA), Gianni Infantino, who is visiting Jakarta.
The FIFA official pledged to help change Indonesian football to improve security on Tuesday after talks at the presidential palace. “We are going to reform and transform football in the country”Mr Infantino said as Indonesia is set to host the Under-20 World Cup next year.
The balance sheet is getting heavier
The death toll from the disaster rose to 133 on Tuesday after a 33-year-old man died of his injuries. More than forty children also perished in the tragedy that occurred on 1er October in the city of Malang (East Java), described by Gianni Infantino as “one of the darkest days for football”.
The deadly stampede caused by tear gas being fired towards the stands happened after a match between local team Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya. Many victims were crushed or suffocated while trying to use closed or too narrow exit doors.
Six people, including three police officers, were indicted, and the regional police chief, transferred. Investigators have called on the head of the national football federation (PSSI) and the management committee to resign, following a preliminary report on the disaster.
Representatives from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have been in Jakarta since last week to help the PSSI and the government investigate the incident.
Joko Widodo had suspended matches in the country pending the outcome of an investigation and called for a verification of security conditions at all stadiums.