The Kanjuruhan Stadium incident brought various light setbacks to the infrastructure. The Indonesian Government reported some disturbing numbers to shake the football community. 96 football fans were reportedly seriously injured, while 484 fans sustained moderate to minor injuries. The stampede led to 132 fatalities. October 01, 2022, is now marked as a dark day for the football community. The Indonesian Government has announced plans to demolish the infrastructure and rebuild it in line with the standards of FIFA.
Gianni Infantino was quick to come out in support of the nation. He traveled to the country and met its President – Joko Widodo – along with other ministers, namely:-
- Zainudin Amali, the Minister of Youth & Sports
- Erick Thohir, the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises
- Mochamad Iriawan, the President of the Football Association of Indonesia
It was a fruitful meeting with a core focus on drafting plans to collaboratively develop safety policies. Infantino has assured that FIFA will support the authorities of Indonesia in a comprehensive nationwide overhaul of the safety measures for the stadium. Joko Widodo announced plans to demolish and rebuild the stadium with enhanced features and safety measures.
As per the sports news, Gianni Infantino, after the meeting, talked to the media and called Indonesia a football country where more than 150 million people are passionate about the sport. He has offered his assurance by stating that FIFA is there for the country and will work with authorities to transform the sport in Indonesia. Key agendas of the meeting between Infantino and the ministers of Indonesia were:-
- Plans for collaborative re-evaluation program
- Formation of a task force to develop safety policies & procedures
The meeting also provided a chance to discuss issues related to measures that need to be adopted for fan engagement, police protocols, mentorship, match schedules, and safety & security protocols.
Qatar has stood out in bringing the best infrastructure for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which starts on November 20, 2022. The physical and virtual infrastructure is also expected to be the best place. For instance, one can expect a seamless experience while betting on FIFA during the relevant time window. As for the physical infrastructure, keeping FIFA standards in mind.
It is pure hard work that has attracted many fans from all over the Globe. Indonesia has the support of FIFA, and with that in mind, Joko Widodo will have enough liberty to proceed and deliver the best output in the coming years. Indonesia is a place where football is played with heart. Incidents like Kanjuruhan Stadium take away people’s motivation to participate in the sport, ultimately affecting the national interest on a global level. Infantino personally visiting the location and committing FIFA’s support is an effective assurance.
