Indonesia to demolish Malang stadium where stampede killed 133

Indonesian President Joko Widodo says his government will demolish and rebuild a football stadium where 133 people died in a stampede this month in one of the world's deadliest sporting disasters.

The president, popularly known as Jokowi, spoke on October 18 to reporters at the state palace in Jakarta after meeting Gianni Infantino, head of the world football governing body FIFA, Al-Jazeera reports.

"Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang … we will demolish it and rebuild according to FIFA standards,” Jokowi said. "We agreed to transform Indonesian soccer thoroughly," he added, using another term to describe football.

On October 1, fans were caught in a deadly crush as they attempted to exit Kanjuruhan Stadium in East Java province’s Malang city after the defeat of the home side Arema FC by Persebaya Surabaya. Many, including more than 40 minors, died of asphyxiation.

Following an investigation, officials concluded in a report published last week that the leading cause behind the incident was the police's use of tear gas in the stadium – a crowd control measure banned by FIFA. The clouds of choking gas triggered the stampede as panicked spectators rushed to exit gates, which several witnesses told Al Jazeera were either locked or blocked by police.

The report also identified other contributing factors, including the stadium being filled beyond capacity, locked exit doors and a push by league officials to hold the game at night to secure better ratings for a local broadcaster, despite a request by police to hold a match between the fierce rivals during the daytime.