Soccer Tragedy Exposes Indonesia’s Troubled History

October 3, 2022 4:25 am

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – Gaining the right to host next year’s Under-20 World Cup was a major milestone in Indonesia’s soccer development that raised hopes of a turnaround to long-standing problems that have blighted the sport in this country of 277 million people. The death of at least 125 people at a league game between host Arema FC of East Java’s Malang city and Persebaya Surabaya on Saturday is a tragic reminder that Indonesia is one of the most dangerous countries in which to attend a game. The domestic league has been suspended pending an investigation. Soccer is passionately supported in Indonesia but the country’s progress in the sport has been constrained by years of corruption, violence and mismanagement.