Indonesia's Soccer Watchdog Talks of Procedural Violations in Kanjuruhan Stadium Tragedy

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The coordinator of Indonesia’s soccer watchdog Save Our Soccer, Akmal Marhali, stated that the tragic incident in Kanjuruhan Stadium was attributable to procedural violations committed by the football match organizers. At least 125 people died in the tragedy, which has reportedly become one of the world’s worst stadium disasters.

“This occurred because of violations, both of the procedures, SOP, and FIFA stadium safety and security regulations,” Akmal said via a voice message to Tempo on Monday, October 3, 2022.

In the professional match on Saturday night, the organizing committee printed 45,000 tickets while the police only allowed 25,000 tickets. “The number of spectators is not balanced with the stadium capacity, causing crowds. This is a very fatal procedural violation,” he remarked.

The match that was held at night was also quite dangerous. Akmal claimed his side had said several times that the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) and the soccer league operator PT Liga Indonesia Baru (LIB) must revise the schedule for late-night football matches. “Because it harms security and convenience if unwanted things happen,” he added.

This had been proven in the previous football games which killed 6 fans from Arema and Bonek because of exhaustion and traffic accidents.

Additionally, Akmal highlighted the use of tear gas at the stadium, asserting that it obviously violated FIFA Stadium Safety and Security Regulations Article 9b.

The soccer watchdog also suspected that PSSI did not convey the procedure that football security was different from demonstration security. “No weapons and tear gas are allowed in the stadium,” he underlined.

Following this fatal incident, Akmal went on, PSSI should have stopped the league until the fact-finding team find the latest evidence. The special team must identify this case and imposes the strongest punishment on parties who fail to handle this case.

He further cited Article 51 of the National Sports System Law No. 11 of 2022 that supporters have the right to security and safety guarantees. This means the committee could be subjected to criminal law with a maximum imprisonment of 5 years and a fine of Rp1 billion. 

PSSI is also urged to immediately draft regulations to ensure the safety of supporters and form a fact-finding team involving the police, Komnas HAM, and non-governmental organizations to launch a thorough investigation into the Kanjuruhan tragedy. “So that our football can bounce back and be better.”

HAMDAN CHOLIFUDIN ISMAIL

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