Gianni Infantino Arrived At The Merdeka Palace, Meeting Jokowi Bahas Indonesian Football Transformation

Gianni Infantino and Jokowi (Photo: Antara)

FIFA President Gianni Infantino arrived at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta on Tuesday afternoon, greeted by Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

Infantino arrived at 11.58 WIB, greeted by the Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora) Zainudin Amali and SOE Minister Erick Thohir at the steps of the Merdeka Palace.

The top official of the world football authority then met with President Jokowi in the Jepara Room, Merdeka Palace.

Infantino's arrival to Indonesia was a follow-up to his letter to President Jokowi which was conveyed through Erick Thohir regarding the grand plan to transform Indonesian football after the Kanguruhan Tragedy.

The letter contained FIFA's readiness to cooperate with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the Indonesian government, and PSSI in transforming Indonesian football with five main points.

The first point relates to stadium safety and security standards that must be comprehensively reviewed and improved.

Second, police security protocols and procedures in carrying out match security tasks that must comply with international safety standards.

Third, more intensive socialization, including the active involvement of supporters in the transformation of football in Indonesia.

Fourth, the scheduling of matches that must be reviewed includes special purposes to avoid implementation times that can increase risks.

And fifth, mentoring and benchmarking, requiring stadium safety and security institutions and expertise need to be reached to set systematic comparisons to the best practices globally.

The tragedy occurred after the Indonesian League 1 match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya at the Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang Regency, East Java, October 1.

According to a report by the Independent Fact Finding Joint Team (TGIPF) submitted to President Jokowi on Friday, October 14, the Kanjuruhan Tragedy caused at least 132 fatalities, 96 seriously injured, and 484 others moderate and minor injuries.