Indonesia to demolish stadium where more than 130 people died, president vows to ‘transform’ game in football-mad nation
- Fifa head Gianni Infantino and Indonesian President Joko Widodo agree to re-evaluate safety measures at stadiums
- The head of world football’s governing body was in Jakarta as the country prepares to host the Under-20 World Cup next year
Indonesia will demolish and rebuild a football stadium where a stampede killed more than 130 people this month, President Joko Widodo said on Tuesday as he vowed to “thoroughly transform” the sport in the football-mad nation.
The president, popularly known as Jokowi, was speaking to reporters at the state palace after meeting Gianni Infantino, head of world football governing body Fifa.
“Kanjuruhan stadium in Malang … we will demolish it and rebuild according to Fifa standards,” he said.
The deadly stampede after a league match in the city of Malang on October 1 has been blamed on police firing tear gas in the stadium, a crowd-control measure banned by Fifa.
The president said he had agreed with Infantino on significant changes to how the sport was managed in Indonesia.
“We agreed to thoroughly transform Indonesian soccer,” he said. “Every aspect of preparation … needs to be based on Fifa standards.”
The meeting between Jokowi and Infantino comes after Indonesia and Fifa agreed to form a joint task force in the wake of the stadium tragedy, and as the country prepares to host the Under-20 World Cup next year.