When a Try‑Bye Turns Tragic: The Kanjuruhan Stadium Stampede
Picture this: a packed match at Malang’s Kanjuruhan stadium, the air buzzing with fans chanting, the roar of the game getting louder. Then out of nowhere—whoosh—tense episodes of tear gas, and the crowd turns into a boulder of panic that ends in a horrible crush. That’s the story the human rights commission Komnas HAM tells us.
How the Disaster Unfolded
- On Oct 1, 45 rounds of tear gas were sprayed inside the venue – a move FIFA has ban‑listed for crowd control.
- Locked gates, an over‑capacity crowd, and chaotic security protocols turned a tense situation into a deadly crush.
- Reports: 135 people lost their lives, the majority choking to death, including 38 minors.
- “Many wrong moves piled on each other,” Komnas HAM says, echoing an earlier government inquiry.
The Human‑Rights Verdict
Komnas HAM officials point to seven big infractions that turned a stadium showdown into a tragedy:
- Over‑use of force (extra tear gas). G.O.A.T.
- Violation of children’s rights (younger fans stuck in a crowd).
- Ignoring real‑time warnings from local police.
- Choosing money over safety.
- Locks & locks: gates that didn’t open fast enough.
- Insufficient emergency protocols.
- Narrow doorways & cramped exits.
What It’s Doing to Indonesia
President Joko Widodo is being grilled for the mishandling, and Komnas HAM has demanded a full audit of every stadium across the nation—Belgian‑style or not—within three months. If no upgrades happen, football matches could burn the rug.
After a chat with FIFA’s chief Gianni Infantino, Joko widely vowed that Kanjuruhan would be demolished and built anew. FIFA has opened a new office in Indonesia to ensure safety checks are solid as the country gears up to host next year’s Under‑20 World Cup.
Bottom Line
It’s a grim reminder that when safety is treated as a cheap souvenir, the real cost can be so devastating. Let’s hope the fix is fast, and the next match doesn’t turn into a tear‑gas storm‑breeze of chaos.
