Kanjuruhan Stadium Tragedy: How Come Only Arema FC And Committee To Be Punished, What About PSSI?

The incident that occurred at the Kanjuruhan Stadium was not an ordinary incident, but a humanitarian tragedy. PSSI should also be responsible. (Northernwall Gate of Unity)

JAKARTA - Investigations to uncover the tragedy of the Kanjuruhan Stadium on October 1, 2022 which resulted in 131 people's deaths are being carried out, both by the police, PSSI, and the Independent Joint Fact-Finding Team (TIGPF).

The PSSI Disciplinary Commission (Komdis) has taken firm steps by punishing Arema FC and the organizing committee (Panpel) for not being able to carry out their duties properly to organize a safe football match.

Arema FC, said PSSI Komdis Chairman Erwin Tobing, was unable to control his supporters until they entered the field after the match.

PSSI Disciplinary Committee Chairman Erwin Tobing said PSSI gave punishment to Arema FC and the Committee for the Arema FC vs. Persebaya Surabaya match related to the incident at the Kanjuruhan Stadium on October 1, 2022. (Antara/Vicki Febrianto)

The following are the penalty points given by the PSSI Komdis to Arema FC and Committee:

1. Arema FC must undergo the match as a host without spectators. Matches are also not allowed at the Kanjuruhan Stadium, they must be more than 250 km from their home base until the 2022-2023 Liga 1 season ends
2. Arema FC imposed a penalty of IDR 250 million
3. Repetition of related violations will result in heavier penalties
4. Sentencing the chairman of the organizing committee, Abdul Haris, to not be active in football for life

      "We saw that the Chief Executive did not carry out his duties properly and carefully, and was not ready. Failed to anticipate crowds of people coming even though he had a steward. There are things that must be prepared, doors that should be open, but closed," said Erwin, Tuesday ( 4/10).

5. Sentencing Suko Sutrisno to no longer be active in football for the rest of her life. Referring to article 68 letter A, in conjunction with article 19, in conjunction with article 141 of the PSSI Komdis 2018

        "Then to the officer or steward, the person who controls everything in and out of the audience at the door. Who is it? Arema FC's security officer is Suko Sutrisno. He is responsible for things that must be carried out but is not carried out well," said Erwin.

Don't Wash Hands

According to Football Observer Tommy Welly, the incident at the Kanjuruhan Stadium could not be separated from the committee's negligence and the carelessness of the security forces. However, this is not an ordinary incident, but a humanitarian tragedy and a heartbreaking tragedy in the world of football that resulted in hundreds of people dying.

Thus, it is not enough just to make the decision of the PSSI Komdis. Arema FC vs Persebaya Surabaya match on October 1, 2022 is an official match, not a wild football match.

PSSI delegates the implementation of matches or competitions to the organizing committee (panpel/from Arema) and match operators (PT Liga Indonesia Baru/LIB). These three institutions should be responsible for ensuring the safety and security of matches or competitions.

“It is not enough just to punish the Panpel, there must be more accountability. This is not an ordinary case," Tommy Welly told VOI, Wednesday (5/10).

Fan riots after the Arema FC vs. Persebaya match that triggered the tragedy of the Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang, with 125 people killed. (Antara)

He was worried and suspected that the Komdis decision was just an attempt to localize the blame only to the executive committee and higher institutions did not want to take responsibility.

"It's time for PSSI to wash their hands. Is that only the responsibility of the Panpel, is it not, the responsibility of the league operator as well, the responsibility of the PSSI institution as well. How come there is tear gas?” he said.

According to Tommy Welly, Mochamad Iriawan should resign from his position as PSSI General Chair. "In fact, not only Iwan Bule (Mochamad Iriawan's greeting), PSSI's Exco ranks also have to step down as a form of moral and ethical responsibility."

PSSI must be able to provide examples of exemplary attitudes. The tragedy of the Kanjuruhan Stadium philosophically concluded that PSSI could not hold matches safely.

"The match was under all PSSI. So, when there is a mistake that is so fatal, he must have a moral responsibility, not just Panpel's business," he added.

Petition for Iwan Bule

The pressure for Iwan Bule to step down from his position as PSSI General Chair is getting stronger, especially on Twitter. The Association of People's Journalists made a petition on change.org entitled "Kanjuruhan Tragedy, Urges PSSI General Chair and Management to Resign ".

As of Wednesday (5/10) at 18:55 WIB, the petition has been signed by 2,758 people.

"We also ask the General Chair and all administrators of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) to resign from their positions, as a form of respect and respect for the victims of the Kanjuruhan Stadium riot tragedy, Malang and for the improvement of football as a whole," wrote the People's Journalist Association.

All interested parties must sit at the same table looking for solutions to make Indonesian football more advanced and developing, stop looking for prestige and political aspects, especially after this tragedy.

Football is actually fun, not even life-threatening. Football should be entertaining, not shedding tears. Football should be a unifier, not a source of disaster.

Another petition was also made by Emerson Yuntho, 'Chairman of PSSI and Director of PT LIB Must Resign'.

"PSSI and PT LIB are considered responsible for this disaster because they ignored the recommendation from the police so that the Arema FC vs. Persebaya Surabaya match would not be held at night. The Federation and PT LIB continued the match at night. There is an impression that they prioritize business over the interests of the safety of Indonesian fans," said Emerson.

The pressure for Mochamad Iriawan to step down from the position of PSSI General Chair is getting stronger on Twitter. (VOI/Ulfa Gusti Utami)

Not even 24 hours, until 19.02 WIB, the petition has been signed by 1,032 people.

However, when the media crew asked him about it in Malang, Iwan Bule confirmed that he would oversee the disclosure of the Kanjuruhan Stadium tragedy until it was over.

"If I want to get off my responsibilities in Jakarta, I call this visiting, waiting for members like that. [I was] in Malang until it was finished," he said as quoted by Kompas.com, Wednesday (5/10).

"Greetings to netizens (laughing)," he added as he walked and ended the interview session.

Previously, President Joko Widodo ordered Youth Sports, the National Police Chief, and the General Chair of PSSI to conduct a thorough evaluation of the implementation of football matches and their security procedures.

“Especially to the National Police Chief, I ask to conduct an investigation and thoroughly investigate this case. I also ordered PSSI to temporarily suspend Liga 1 until an evaluation and improvement of security procedures is carried out," said Jokowi.

PSSI, at this time, has stopped the 2022/2023 Liga 1 competition indefinitely.

"I regret this tragedy and I hope this is the last football tragedy in the country. Don't let another human tragedy like this happen in the future. We must continue to maintain sportsmanship, humanity, and the sense of brotherhood of the Indonesian people together," added Jokowi.