Managing Director of The Stadium Consultancy, Ben Veenbrink, returned to Indonesia as part of FIFA’s expert delegation for the second phase of its stadium safety and security transformation project. FIFA and the Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI) are working together to enhance football stadium infrastructure across Indonesia, ensuring compliance with international safety and security standards.

This initiative stems from the Memorandum of Understanding signed between FIFA and PSSI during the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2023. The project underscores stadium safety and security as critical components in the transformation of Indonesian football, following the tragic events at Kanjuruhan Stadium on October 1st, 2022, which resulted in significant loss of life and injuries.

Building on the findings from the first phase of the study conducted in May 2024—where eight stadiums were assessed—this second phase extended its reach, evaluating 13 stadiums across the archipelago. The focus of the expert delegation was to assess and provide recommendations on critical safety aspects, including stadium ingress and egress, evacuation routes, and spectator circulation flows.

The Stadium Consultancy contributed its specialized expertise in stadium safety, infrastructure, and operational standards. This second phase aims to support PSSI and FIFA in developing detailed safety guidelines, certification systems, and recommendations to improve stadiums tailored to the conditions in Indonesia.

Erick Thohir, chairman of PSSI, emphasized the importance of this initiative:

“This collaboration is our real commitment to improving the quality and safety of football stadiums across Indonesia. With support from FIFA, we want to ensure that our stadiums meet international standards, so players, officials, and fans can enjoy football with a sense of security. This is an important step to build a better football environment in Indonesia.”

The results of this study will serve as a foundation for the renovation and development of stadiums across Indonesia, contributing to the overall safety, security, and future of Indonesian football.

Source image: PSSI