Mass arrests begin after deadly stampede at football match in Indonesia

FIFA and the Football Association of the country formed a task force after the tragedy that claimed the lives of more than 170 people

The Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) and FIFA will form a joint working group to study in detail the causes of the deadly stampede at the Kanjuruhan Stadium on October 1, 2022 and improve the control of security measures. Then, as a result of one of the worst disasters in football stadiums in the world, according to various sources, more than a hundred people died, and several hundred more fans were injured.

As MK wrote, the cause of the stampede was the use of tear gas by the police to disperse the fans who ran onto the field at the end of the local championship match between Arema and Persebaia. The same conclusion was reached by international security experts at major sporting events taking part in the investigation of the incident.

“We have agreed to form a Football Transformation Working Group comprised of FIFA leadership and stadium security experts,” PSSI head Muhammad Iriawan told reporters after meeting with FIFA officials.

According to him, according to the plans, the Indonesian police will ensure that their standard operating procedures are synchronized with FIFA rules.

The joint working group will also include members of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), as well as representatives of the police, the national ministry of sports, interior, health and public works.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo said FIFA did not plan to impose sanctions on his country over the incident, but the creation of the working group is due to the fact that Indonesia is due to host the 2018 FIFA U-20 World Cup next year.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is expected to visit Jakarta on Tuesday 18 October to meet with Widodo, after which a joint commitment should be announced. Infantino will also make a statement during the G20 leaders’ summit in Bali in November about Indonesia’s readiness to host an international event, PSSI chief Muhammad Iriawan said.

Currently, six people, including representatives of the police and the organizers of the match, have been prosecuted after the stampede.

Separately, the Indonesian Minister of Public Works said that the Kanjuruhan Stadium would be fully renovated after the facility was inspected.