Indonesia president says no FIFA sanctions after stadium disaster

Joko Widodo mentioned FIFA President Gianni Infantino had written to him about collaborations with Indonesian soccer.

Indonesia's President Joko Widodo stands at Gate 12 on the Kanjuruhan stadium in Malang, East Java, on October 5, 2022, following a stampede that killed at the very least 131 folks in one of many deadliest disasters in soccer historical past [Indonesian presidential palace handout/AFP]

Indonesia won't face sanctions from soccer’s world governing physique FIFA over the police use of tear gasoline inside a packed soccer stadium that led to a stampede and crush which killed 131 folks, together with 17 youngsters.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo mentioned FIFA President Gianni Infantino had written in a letter to him about potential collaborations between Indonesia and FIFA, and the nation would stay the host of subsequent 12 months’s Below-20 World Cup joined by 24 nations from 5 continents.

“Based mostly on the letter, thank God, Indonesian soccer just isn't sanctioned by FIFA,” Widodo mentioned in a tweet and a video posted on the presidential workplace’s YouTube channel late on Friday night time.

Saya telah menerima surat dari FIFA menyusul pembicaraan melalui telepon saya dengan Presiden FIFA, Gianni Infantino, beberapa waktu lalu.

Bagaimana keputusan FIFA atas tragedi sepak bola di Stadion Kanjuruhan, 1 Oktober lalu? https://t.co/tsKciY53ZZ

— Joko Widodo (@jokowi) October 7, 2022

Widodo had toured the Kanjuruhan soccer stadium in Malang metropolis, East Java, on Wednesday the place he mentioned locked gates had contributed to the deaths of 131 folks following the match on October 1 between arch-rivals Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya.

After dwelling facet Arema’s loss, followers invaded the pitch and police fired volleys of tear gasoline to regulate what they described as “riots”.

The clouds of choking gasoline triggered a stampede as panicked spectators rushed to exit gates which a number of witnesses informed Al Jazeera had been both locked or blocked by police.

Spectators suffocated within the chaos whereas others had been trampled to dying. At the least 34 folks, together with two cops, died on the stadium. Many died later of their accidents.

In its safety protocols for soccer occasions, FIFA advises in opposition to the usage of tear gasoline in or round stadiums and recommends exit gates be unlocked always throughout a sport.

Widodo additionally mentioned the Indonesian authorities had agreed to take collaborative measures with FIFA and the Asian Soccer Confederation to enhance stadium security to forestall one other tragedy.

FIFA’s Infantino would additionally go to Indonesia within the close to future, he mentioned.

Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, speaks on the World Innovation Summit for Well being 2022 in Doha, Qatar, on October 6, 2022 [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]

Most harmful

Indonesia’s nationwide soccer affiliation, identified domestically as PSSI, has lengthy struggled to handle home soccer and Indonesia is named one of the crucial harmful nations during which to attend a soccer match.

Gaining the fitting to host subsequent 12 months’s U-20 World Cup was a substantial milestone in Indonesia’s soccer improvement, elevating hopes a profitable event would flip round longstanding issues which have blighted the game within the nation, dwelling to greater than 277 million folks.

Since final weekend’s tragedy, the home league has been suspended.

Widodo ordered the game minister, the nationwide police chief and the soccer federation to conduct a radical investigation into the lethal stadium crush.

Indonesia’s nationwide police chief on Thursday mentioned the stadium didn't have a correct working certificates and prison expenses can be introduced in opposition to six folks, together with three cops.