The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) and FIFA will form a joint task force in an effort to improve crowd control and safety measures following a deadly stampede earlier this month, officials said. know on Thursday.
Indonesian authorities are under pressure to take quick steps to overhaul football safety standards after more than 130 people died during a match at Kanjuruhan Stadium in East Java on October 1, one of the world’s worst stadium disasters on October 1.
Security experts have said that tear gas fired by police inside the stadiuma measure banned by FIFA, which caused the deadly stampede.
The head of PSSI, Mochamad Iriawan, told reporters after a meeting with FIFA officials: “We have agreed to create a task force, or football transformation force, that includes the government, FIFA. and experts in football, security and stadiums.
Under the plan, Indonesian police will ensure their standard operating procedures are in sync with FIFA regulations, he said.
The joint task force will also include members of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) as well as police and the ministries of sports, interior, health and public works.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo, more commonly known as Jokowi, said FIFA had no plans to punish his country for the incident, but the sport’s rare intervention took place because of Indonesia. will host the FIFA Under-20 World Cup next year.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino is expected to travel to Jakarta on Tuesday to meet Jokowi, after which the joint commitment will be announced.
Mr. Iriawan said Mr. Infantino would also make a statement during the Group of 20 leaders’ summit in Bali in November about Indonesia’s readiness to host an international event.
Six people including the policeman and the match organizer is facing criminal charges following the stampedewith the government highlighting lax safety measures, such as locked exits and overcrowded stadiumsas contributing factors.
The Indonesian Minister of Public Works said that Kanjuruhan Stadium will be completely renovated after inspecting the site.
