Indonesians are outraged at world soccer governing body FIFA after its president, Gianni Infantino, was pictured having a fun kickabout with PSSI (Indonesian Football Association) officials during the former’s visit to the country.
Infantino met with President Joko Widodo in Jakarta yesterday to discuss the Oct. 1 Kanjuruhan Stadium tragedy, during which 133 lives were lost, and how FIFA can provide a more hands-on approach in ensuring a better, safer future in Indonesian soccer.
FIFA has been conspicuously cool about Kanjuruhan — the world’s second deadliest soccer tragedy of all time — in that it did not slap Indonesia with any sanctions nor did it take away the country’s U-20 World Cup hosting rights next year.
Perhaps, then, Infantino having a friendly game of soccer with PSSI Chairman Mochamad Iriawan AKA Irwan Bule and other officials was par for the course. Even PSSI’s official Twitter account saw no issue with posting photos from the game, during which everybody appeared to be in jovial spirits.
Public reaction has been less than kind, with condemnation especially going towards Infantino and FIFA.
“Where is your conscience?” several users tweeted in response. Even former Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti had something to say.
Some users pointed out that the Kanjuruhan death toll rose by one to 133 in the afternoon prior to the kickabout, after a victim named Andi Setiawan gave his last breath following 17 days in intensive care.
Irwan Bule was also supposed to be questioned by police yesterday for his possible accountability in the tragedy, but the meeting was pushed back as Irwan had to tend to a VIP.
PSSI said Infantino requested to have the kickabout with association officials to show the world that the game can go on whatever happens.
On Oct. 1, Malang-based Arema hosted rivals Persebaya from Surabaya at Kanjuruhan Stadium. A stampede ensued after the final whistle, claiming the lives of 133 people and injuring hundreds more. While there was an attempt to place the blame on soccer hooliganism, an independent fact-finding team (TGPIF) has found that police’s excessive use of tear gas — which is banned by FIFA — was the main cause of the deadly stampede.
Related — Kanjuruhan to be demolished to make way for a safer stadium: President Jokowi
