FIFA Indonesia stadia tour key mantra safety

Image: FIFA

An expert FIFA delegation has visited and evaluated eight stadiums across Indonesia as part of FIFA’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI).

‘INSIDEFIFA’ stated that stadium safety and security were identified as key pillars for the transformation of Indonesian football when FIFA and the PSSI signed the MOU in November 2023 during the inauguration of FIFA’s office in Jakarta. The landmark agreement was signed during the FIFA U-17 World Cup™ when Indonesia hosted its first FIFA tournament in late 2023.

Zürich (Switzerland)-based the Fédération internationale de football association (FIFA) is an international self-regulatory governing body of association football, beach soccer and futsal.

Central Jakarta (Indonesia)-based the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) is the governing body of football in Indonesia. It was founded on April 19^th, 1930. The PSSI joined FIFA in 1952 and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 1954.

Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)-based the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is the governing body of association football, beach soccer and futsal in most countries and territories in Asia. The AFC was formed in 1954. It has 47 members.

‘INSIDEFIFA’ further stated that in light of the MOU, the FIFA is collaborating with the PSSI to improve stadium infrastructure, safety and security standards across Indonesia. As part of this initiative, a specialized FIFA team visited eight stadiums between May 20^th-25^th, 2024, across four provinces in Indonesia, namely North Sumatra, West Java, East Java, and East Kalimantan.
 

The visit extensively covered the following eight stadiums:

• Sumatera Utara Main Stadium;
• The 20,000-capacity Teladan Stadium in Medan;
• The 30,000-capacity Patriot Candrabhaga Stadium in Bekasi;
• The 30,000-capacity Wibawa Mukti Stadium in Bekasi Regency;
• The 38,000-capacity Kanjuruhan Stadium in Kepanjen;
• The 35,000-capacity Gelora Delta Sidoarjo Stadium in Sidoarjo;
• The 40,000-capacity Gelora Joko Samudro Stadium in Kebomas; and
• The 7,600-capacity Segiri Stadium in Samarinda.

 
These stadiums in Indonesia are being renovated by the Ministry of Public Works and Housing and the visit was part of a larger series of inspections of these projects which the FIFA is supporting with its specialized knowledge and expertise through FIFA’s Stadium and Infrastructure Consultant.

The visit focused on four key areas: Stadium ingress and egress, access, the evacuation route, and spectator circulation flow. Following the visit, FIFA will prepare an assessment report as well as recommendations to be shared with the PSSI and the local authorities.

The FIFA delegation included FIFA’s Stadium and Infrastructure Consultant Benjamin Veenbrink and the FIFA Regional Development Manager Karan Mirchandani while the PSSI delegation included the Director of Infrastructure Safety and Security Adi Nugroho and Cut Ayu Rahimainita from the PSSI’s President’s Office.

Among the stadiums visited was the Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang Regency, East Java, where on October 1^st, 2022 – according to an official Government report – violent events at a football match resulted in at least 132 fatalities, seriously injuring 96 and left another 484 with moderate and minor injuries.

Maintained Mirchandani, “Our visit underscores FIFA’s commitment to supporting the PSSI in transforming the Indonesian football infrastructure. The tragic events of 2022 must drive us to ensure that all football fans can enjoy the sport in a safe and secure environment in stadiums.”

Noted Nugroho, “This support from FIFA based on early communication between the President of the Republic Indonesia Joko Widodo, the PSSI President Erick Thohir and the FIFA President Gianni Infantino is crucial in our mission to rebuild and improve our stadiums. The memory of those we lost fuels our determination to create a safer future for all football enthusiasts.”

The FIFA representatives presented a bouquet at the stadium, honoring the memory of those who perished and reaffirming FIFA’s commitment to ensuring such a tragedy never happens again.

Following the tragedy, the FIFA President had traveled to Jakarta in October 2022 to meet President Widodo and promised the country’s authorities that the FIFA would support them throughout a comprehensive nationwide overhaul of the stadium safety measures.

“This initiative is FIFA’s unequivocal commitment to further develop football in Indonesia, especially from a stadia safety and security perspective, but also serves as a meaningful tribute to honour the lives lost in the Kanjuruhan tragedy,”

Stated Sanjeevan Balasingam, FIFA’s Regional Director, Asia and Oceania, “This initiative is FIFA’s unequivocal commitment to further develop football in Indonesia, especially from a stadia safety and security perspective, but also serves as a meaningful tribute to honor the lives lost in the Kanjuruhan tragedy.”

In addition to the stadium visits, the FIFA delegation also visited the National Training Centre (NTC) to inspect the progress of its construction. Located in the Nusantara Capital City (IKN), Phase 1 of the NTC’s construction was fully funded by the FIFA Forward Development Programme. Amounting to USD 5.4 million, the funding provided for the construction of a natural grass pitch, an artificial turf pitch, a dormitory, and changing room. The project is currently 85 percent completed with the inauguration expected to take place in August 2024.

The FIFA Forward Development Programme has been built to provide 360-degree, tailor-made support for football development in each of its member-associations and the six confederations and is based on three principles: More investment. More impact. More oversight.

The PSSI has already planned the first official usage of the NTC as a base camp for the U-20 Indonesia men’s national team as they prepare for the AFC U-20 Asian Cup Qualifiers 2025 in September this year.

FIFA’s Football Stadium Guidelines, published on FIFA.com, aim to transfer stadium knowledge around the world and are intended for use by the confederations and the member-associations, clubs, stakeholders such as the Municipal authorities, the owners and the architects and the licensing authorities.

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