Indonesia, FIFA to form transformation team following football tragedy

A transformation team will be formed soon under a collaboration of the Indonesian government together with the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) following a football tragedy in Malang district, East Java province.

 

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – The Indonesian government together with the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) will form a football transformation team following a football tragedy in Malang district, East Java province.

This is one of the points in the letter from FIFA received by Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) as a follow-up to President Jokowi’s telephone conversation with FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, on Oct. 3, 2022.

“FIFA together with the government will form a transformation team for the Indonesian football, and FIFA will be based in Indonesia during these processes,” President Jokowi said in a press statement at the Merdeka Palace here on Friday.

In addition, the letter also stated that the Indonesian football was not sanctioned by FIFA related to the football tragedy at the Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang district on Oct. 1, 2022.

“Based on the letter, thank God, the Indonesian football is not sanctioned by FIFA,” President Jokowi added.

The head of state explained that collaborative steps would be taken among FIFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the Indonesian government to build stadium safety standards in all stadiums in the country and formulate standard protocols and security procedures carried out by the police based on international safety standards.

The collaboration also involves efforts to familiarize and discuss with football clubs in Indonesia as well as supporters’ representatives to get suggestions, inputs and joint commitments, arrange match schedules that take into account potential risks, and invite relevant experts.

President Jokowi likewise mentioned that FIFA President Gianni Infantino would visit Indonesia in the near future.

“Later, the FIFA President will come to Indonesia in October or November to discuss with the government,” he said.

The National Police’s spokesperson Inspector General Dedi Prasetyo in his statement on Friday disclosed that the latest data showed the death toll to 131 out of a total of 678 victims, including 547 injured.

Dedi further explained that up to today 60 victims are still under treatment at hospitals.

The tragic incident occurred following the match between Arema FC of Malang, and Persebaya of Surabaya, at the Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang district, East Java province, on Saturday (Oct. 1) evening.

Reporting by Indonesia Window