October 10 – Indonesia will not face sanctions from FIFA over the police use of tear gas that contributed to the recent stadium disaster that killed 131 people, including 17 children.
Nor will it be stripped of hosting next year’s 24-nation under-20 World Cup, according to Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
Widodo said FIFA President Gianni Infantino had written to re-assure him about both.
“Based on the letter, thank God, Indonesian football is not sanctioned by FIFA,” Widodo said in a tweet and a video posted on the presidential office’s YouTube channel.
FIFA advises against the using tear gas in or around stadiums and recommends exit gates be unlocked at all times during a game. However, these regulations don’t apply to domestic or national leagues.
Widodo toured the stadium in Malang, East Java, last week where he confirmed locked gates had contributed to the disaster on October 1 at a domestic game between arch-rivals Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya. Scores of spectators suffocated in the chaos while others were trampled to death.
Widodo said the Indonesian government had agreed to take collaborative measures with FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation to improve stadium safety to prevent another tragedy. Since last weekend’s tragedy, the domestic league has been suspended.
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