Two Indonesian officials jailed following Java stadium deaths

March 9, 2023

Legal / Safety / Sport / Venues /

An Indonesian court has given prison sentences to two club officials after finding them guilty of negligence over last October’s stadium disaster in Indonesia, which killed 135 people.

The 1st October 2022 derby match in Malang, East Java, between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya ended in tragedy with the deaths of 135 spectators, many of them crushed as they fled for exits after police fired tear gas into the crowd.

Indonesian Police fired the tear gas into the crowd after fans invaded the pitch, with the ensuing panic leading to fans rushing towards the stadium’s exits, which caused a crush.

In January, five men were put on trial for their role in the disaster with two club officials being jailed as of today.

Ruling that Arema FC did not put in place adequate safety measures for the game, Abdul Haris, Chairman of the Club’s organising committee, was found guilty by Judge Abu Achmad Shiddqi Hamsya said at the Court in Surabaya "due to his negligence causing people to die and get severely injured".

He was sentenced to 18 months in prison, while Arema FC’s Security Officer, Suko Sutrisno, was found guilty of negligence and jailed him for one year.

The Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) also banned both me from football-related activities for life.

Both match officials' representatives said they would study the ruling before attempting next legal steps.

In the days after the tragedy, six individuals were charged with negligence causing death while Indonesian President Joko Widodo also ordered an audit of all football stadiums in the country.

President Widodo later said that the stadium will be demolished and rebuilt according to FIFA standards as part of plans to “thoroughly transform” Indonesian football.

An investigation by Indonesia's human rights commission found the main cause of the stampede was police firing 45 rounds of tear gas into the crowd, a means of crowd control banned by world football governing body FIFA.

Indonesia is scheduled to host the FIFA U20 World Cup this year.

PSSI has recently appointed Erick Thohir, Indonesia's Minister of State Owned Enterprises and a former Chairman of Inter Milan, as its new Chairman.

Image: Tear gas being fired at the 1st October 2022 derby match at the Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang, East Java, between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya.

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2nd November 2022 - South Korean authorities concede extensive failures led to Seoul crowd crush deaths

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13th August 2018 - 12 Jakarta sport venues inaugurated in advance of Asian Games

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6th July 2015 - Indonesia faces football wilderness after indefinite FIFA ban

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