October 5 – As the death toll in the weekend’s Indonesia stadium disaster rose to 131, including 33 children, FIFA are reported to have demanded a full report amid speculation the country will be sanctioned in terms of hosting global competitions.
Hundreds of fans were crushed as they tried to flee the overpacked stadium in Indonesia’s East Java region on Saturday after police fired tear gas to disperse supporters of the losing side Arema FC, who had poured on to the pitch.
Indonesia is due to host the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in May and is also bidding to replace China as host of the 2023 Asian Cup alongside South Korea and Qatar, with a decision due this month. But all these could now be in jeopardy.
Under FIFA rules no “crowd control gas” should be carried or used by stewards or police at matches and Indonesia President Joko Widodo said he had spoken to FIFA president Gianni Infantino over the deadly stampede.
“He (Infantino) said if needed, FIFA can help fix Indonesia’s soccer management,” Widodo said. Asked earlier about the possibility of FIFA sanctions over the disaster, he said it was a matter for FIFA to decide.
The government, meanwhile, will provide 50 million rupiah ($3,268) in compensation to each of the victims’ families while the Football Association of Indonesia says it has permanently banned the chief executive and security coordinator of the team that hosted Saturday’s match, Arema FC, for failing to promptly issue a command to unlock the gates.
It has also banned Arema from hosting any matches attended by its supporters in Malang until next year.
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