Football: Indonesia’s safety standards questioned

KUALA LUMPUR: Asian Football Confederation’s acting president Zhang Jilong questioned Indonesia’s safety standards after a stadium stampede left two people dead at the Southeast Asian Games football final. Jilong called for a report from Indonesia after Monday’s tragedy, which also left a nine-year-old boy in a coma. “Football matches should be made secure by all member associations,” said Jilong. “They should take care not only of the players on the field but also the fans outside the field.” The deadly crush happened when spectators broke through barriers at Jakarta’s sold-out Gelora Bung Karno stadium for the game between Indonesia and Malaysia, which the visitors won on penalties.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 24^th, 2011.