PSSI Just Stop Liga 1 With The Composite Reduction, League 2 And U-17 2023 Asian Cup Qualifiers Stay Rolling

A number of supporters put up banners in the act of concern about the Kanjuruhan Stadium Tragedy in front of the Office of the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kemenpora), Jakarta, Sunday (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - PSSI Secretary General Yunus Nusi ensured that all competitions other than the 2022-2023 Indonesian League 1 continued after the riots that occurred at the Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang, Saturday night.

"Yang dihentikan hanya Liga 1," ujar Yunus di Stadio Madya Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta, Minggu.

PSSI and competition operator PT Liga Indonesia Baru (LIB) stopped the 2022-2023 Indonesian League 1 for one week, starting last Sunday, after riots broke out in the Kanjuran killed more than 100 people.

However, other competitions such as Liga 2 and the 2023 U-17 Asian Cup Qualification, where Group B takes place at Pakansari Stadium, Bogor, on October 1-9, will continue.

The young football competition, namely the Elite Pro Academy (EPA), is also still being held. On Sunday, October 2, the EPA completed two finals for the U-16 and U-18 sectors.

Especially for Liga 2 2022-2023, PSSI asked the match organizing committee at all match locations to increase their vigilance so that the incident at the Kanjuruhan Stadium does not happen again.

"The club's committee is instructed to take anticipatory steps," said Yunus.

Meanwhile, for the 2023 U-17 Asian Cup Qualification Group B match at Pakansari Stadium, Cibinong, PSSI believes that all matches will run smoothly because there is no large number of supporters mobilization.

Even so, PSSI will still coordinate its security with the authorities.

The riot at the Kanjuruhan Stadium occurred when Arema FC supporters, Aremania, burst into the field area after their favorite team lost 2-3 to Persebaya in the 2022-2023 Indonesian League 1 continued match.

The police then fired tear gas in the field which made many supporters faint and difficulty breathing.

The defeated supporters caused panic in the stadium area and were scrambling to find a way out. That makes many of them squeezed and trampled on while trying to leave the stadium stands.

The National Police Chief, General Listyo Sigit, stated that 125 people died as a result of the incident.