Jakarta, Oct. 18 (BNA): The FIFA chief met the Indonesian president on Tuesday and pledged to help improve stadium safety to prevent a repeat of a tragedy in which police fired tear gas at a match, causing crushing deaths of 132 as spectators attempted to flee, according to The Associated Press.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he will provide experts and investments to improve infrastructure across the football-obsessed nation of more than 276 million people because they “love football and we owe it to them that when they go to watch matches, they are safe and secure.”
He said FIFA will work closely with the government, the Asian Football Confederation and the Indonesian Football Association to ensure that the U-20 World Cup, which Indonesia will host next year, runs smoothly.
“My presence here is a sign of a new start for football in Indonesia,” Infantino said at a joint press conference with Indonesian President Joko Widodo. “What I can guarantee to the president, and what I can guarantee to all the people of Indonesia, is that FIFA is here with you.”
The October 1 tragedy at a stadium in Malang, East Java, which killed 132 people, including 43 children, was one of the deadliest sports disasters in the world. The government said about 580 spectators were injured.
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