After a stampede incident killed 133 people at the Khanjuruhan stadium in Indonesia during a domestic league football match between local teams Persebaya Surabaya and Arema Malang in September, Indonesian president Joko Widodo has decided to demolish the venue and rebuild it. 

Widodo met FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Tuesday to discuss the tragedy that has gone on to become one of the worst football stadium disasters in history. The decision was announced by Widodo after their meeting concluded.

Also read: Where is Kanjuruhan Stadium in Indonesia?

“For Kanjuruhan stadium in Malang, we will demolish and rebuild it according to FIFA standards,” Joko Widodo told the press after the meeting.

He added that the stadium will be replaced with a new one that will have “proper facilities that can ensure the safety of both players and the supporters.” 

The FIFA president described the incident as “one of the darkest days in football” and he said that FIFA would help “reform and transform” Indonesian football. 

“What I can guarantee to all the people of Indonesia: FIFA is here with you, FIFA is here to stay, FIFA is here to work in a very close partnership with the government, with the Asian Football Confederation and with the federation of Indonesia,” he said.

After supporters invaded the pitch at the end of a league match between Arema FC and rivals Persebaya Surabaya, police fired tear gas into packed stands, sparking a stampede.

Also read: Indonesia stadium stampede: See fans clash after Persebaya Surabaya-Arema Malang match

The incident happened when Arema Malang fans invaded the pitch following their team’s 3-2 loss to Persebaya Surabaya. Police fired tear gas to disperse them and when they rushed to the exit gates to avoid the tear gas, it resulted in a stampede that killed 34 spectators instantly while 99 more people died later with injuries.

The stadium can house 42,000 people during matches, but the gates are reportedly so narrow that only two people can pass at a time. It was reported that some of the gates were not opened when tear gas was used and the crowd tried to exit through them.