President Jokowi Orders PSSI to Stop League 1 Following Kanjuruhan Tragedy

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has expressed his deepest condolences for the death of 129 people in a football tragedy on Saturday (10/01) at Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang regency, East Java province.

A riot broke out following the loss of home football club Arema to its rival Persebaya Surabaya.

 “I am deeply saddened by the loss of 129 of our people in a football tragedy at Kanjuruhan in Malang regency, East Java province,” the President said on Sunday (10/02) at Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java province.

The President has ordered that the injured victims are given the best medical treatment.

“I have ordered the Minister of Health and the Governor of East Java to especially monitor the medical treatment for hospitalized victims. They must receive the best treatment,” he said, adding that he has also ordered the Chief of the National Police Listyo Sigit Prabowo to investigate the incident thoroughly.

“As for the Chief of the National Police, I ordered him to carry out thorough investigation and probe into the case,” he said.

Furthermore, the President ordered the Minister of Youth and Sports Zainudin Amali, the Chief of the National Police, and the President of the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) to conduct a thorough investigation on the organization of the football match and its security procedures.

“I have also ordered the PSSI to suspend League 1 matches until evaluation is carried out and security procedures are improved,” he said.

The President expressed hope that the Kanjuruhan tragedy is the last football tragedy in Indonesia, adding that sportsmanship, humanity, and Indonesian brotherhood must continue to be upheld.

“I regret this tragedy and I hope this is the last football tragedy in our country. Such a tragedy of humanity must not occur anymore,” he remarked. (SLN/UN) (DH/MMB)