Despite the mass panic in a stadium with more than 130 dead, Indonesia is scheduled to host the U20 World Cup next year as planned.
This requires ten state-of-the-art stadiums and smooth and seamless operations, said FIFA President Gianni Infantino after a meeting with Indonesian Prime Minister Joko Widodo in Jakarta.
The U20 World Cup is scheduled to take place from May 20th to June 11th, 2023. The tournament was supposed to be held in 2021, but was postponed due to the corona pandemic.
A stampede broke out at Malang’s Kanjuruhan Stadium in early October after the Arema FC-Persebaya FC premier league match, when fans rushed onto the field and the police used violence and tear gas against them. More than 130 people – including 37 children – died as thousands tried to reach the emergency exits. Hundreds of spectators were also injured.
FIFA office planned in Indonesia
Infantino announced that the world football association wanted to set up an office in the Southeast Asian country. This is to oversee efforts to make changes in Indonesian football after the incident. The reforms would focus on stadium operations, fan behavior and infrastructure, he said.
An independent commission of inquiry had concluded that tear gas used by the police was responsible for the stampede. In her report presented on Friday, she called for criminal investigations into the actions of the security forces. According to the police, six people have been charged with criminal negligence so far.