FIFA Oversees the Transformation of Indonesian Soccer

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

FIFA President Gianni Infantino (right) gives a souvenir to President Joko Widodo after their meeting at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (18/10/2022).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and FIFA president Gianni Infantino have agreed to jointly oversee the transformation of Indonesian soccer as a whole. FIFA will also have an office in Indonesia until the restoration is complete.

"We agreed to carry out a complete transformation of Indonesian soccer, ensuring that all aspects of the match run according to the security standards set by FIFA. Both players and spectators must be guaranteed their safety and security," President Jokowi said in a joint press statement after meeting with Gianni Infantino at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday (18/10/2022).

President Jokowi spoke with Infantino for approximately 30 minutes at Merdeka Palace. The meeting was held to discuss the transformation of soccer in the country after the tragedy that killed 133 people at Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang, East Java.

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At the meeting, which was also attended by the State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir and Youth and Sports Minister Zainuddin Amali, the technical management of the stadium was also discussed, especially the standard of stadium facilities. Indonesia and FIFA agreed to review the feasibility of the stadium and apply technology to help mitigate potential harm for spectators and players.

The President said the government had decided to rebuild Kanjuruhan Stadium to comply with FIFA standards.

Also discussed were details of security and safety management, especially regarding the timing and arrangement of supporters. With FIFA, the government will review Indonesian soccer stakeholders.

Based in Indonesia

In order to oversee the transformation process, FIFA will have an office in Indonesia so that soccer management in Indonesia runs well.

"I see FIFA having an office [in Indonesia] for a long time because FIFA President Gianni Infantino said that FIFA wants to invest a lot in Indonesia, in matters related to stadiums, safety, supporters and soccer schools,” said the President.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

FIFA President Gianni Infantino gives a statement to reporters after meeting President Joko Widodo at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (18/10/2022).

Infantino said FIFA's main priority in Indonesia would be to reform the country’s soccer practices.

"FIFA is here to work closely with the government, with the Asian Football Confederation [AFC] and with the Indonesian Football Association [PSSI] to transform – to reform – football because football is joy and brings happiness," Infantino said.

President Jokowi said the meeting’s attendees did not discuss the recommendations of the Joint Independent Fact Finding Team (TGIPF) related to the Kanjuruhan incident. The meeting with the FIFA president also did not involve PSSI officials.

"The PSSI will be FIFA's business. Just now, FIFA's business was with the government," said Jokowi.

FIFA is here to work closely with the government, with the Asian Football Confederation [AFC] and with the Indonesian Football Association [PSSI] to transform – to reform – football because football is joy and brings happiness.

A soccer culture researcher from Yogyakarta Muhammadiyah University, Fajar Junaedi, said the arrival of the FIFA president indicated several things.

“First, there are serious problems in the governance of soccer in Indonesia. Second, it shows that FIFA no longer trusts PSSI," said Fajar.

An academic from the Faculty of Sports Science at Yogyakarta State University, Djoko Pekik Irianto, said Indonesia had a large soccer market. This phenomenon, he said, had also attracted FIFA's attention.

Cancelling approval

The family of a victim of the Kanjuruhan tragedy has revoked the autopsy agreement it had previously agreed to. Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) secretary general Andy Irfan said that one of the victims' parents, referred to as DA, had previously agreed to have the body of his son autopsied. However, after he expressed his willingness, officers from one law enforcement institution repeatedly visited DA's house.

“Finally, the DA made a letter of revocation of the approval. The letter was known by the local subdistrict officer,” said Andy.

The deputy chairperson of the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK), Edwin Partogi, when contacted from Malang, regretted the revocation of the autopsy approval. Regarding the possibility of intimidation, his party is still verifying whether there was pressure that resulted in the autopsy approval being revoked.

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The LPSK also asked some of the victims' families to agree to autopsies. Edwin said the LPSK would guard the victims' families if they felt threatened.

The death toll in the Kanjuruhan tragedy increased by one person on Tuesday, namely Andi Setiawan (33), who had been treated for 18 days in the ICU of Saiful Anwar Hospital, Malang. The total death toll is now 133 people.

East Java Police head of public relations Comr. Dirmanto said the planned examination of PSSI general chairman Mochamad Iriawan and PSSI deputy general chairman Iwan Budianto on Tuesday had been delayed. ( WKM/DIA/NIT/BRO/Z08/Z10)

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.