Three years on from stadium disaster, Indonesian football has a positive story to tell

Three years after the tragic Kanjuruhan stadium disaster that claimed 135 lives, Indonesian football is showing signs of positive change. The country's national team, led by Patrick Kluivert, is within reach of the World Cup, indicating progress despite persistent problems. The article highlights the turbulent history of Indonesian football, marked by corruption, the creation of rival leagues, and fan violence. However, the recent appointment of Erick Thohir, a former owner of Inter and DC United, as the head of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) has brought a glimmer of hope. Despite the setback of losing the hosting rights for the Under-20 World Cup due to the governor of Bali's unwillingness to welcome Israel, Thohir's efforts convinced FIFA to award Indonesia the Under-17 World Cup in November, which was a success and brought much-needed positivity to the sport in the country. Overall, the article presents a cautiously optimistic outlook for Indonesian football, acknowledging the ongoing challenges while highlighting the positive steps being taken to address the issues and move the sport in a better direction.