At least 129 people were killed and about 180 injured at a soccer match in Indonesia after a crowd stampeded during a riot, police said Sunday, in what appears to be one of the world’s worst stadium disasters.
After the match in East Java province between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya ended on Saturday night, supporters of the losing team invaded the pitch and police fired tear gas, leading to a stampede and cases of ‘ofec, East Java police chief Nico Afinta told reporters.
Police officers fire tear gas during a soccer match at Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang, East Java, Indonesia, Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022.
(AP Photo/Yudha Prabowo)
Video footage from local news channels showed people running on the Malang Stadium pitch and images of body bags.
There have been previous outbreaks of trouble at matches in Indonesia, with strong rivalry between clubs sometimes leading to violence between supporters.
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Zainudin Amali, Indonesia’s sports minister, told KompasTV that the ministry would re-evaluate security at soccer matches, including the possibility of not allowing spectators into stadiums.
Football fans carry an injured man. Clashes between supporters of two Indonesian soccer teams in East Java province killed more than 100 fans and several police officers, most of whom were trampled to death, police said on Sunday.
(AP Photo/Yudha Prabowo)
Indonesia’s BRI League League 1 has suspended matches for a week after the match which Persebaya won 3-2 and an investigation has been launched, the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) said.
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Among the world’s stadium disasters, 96 Liverpool fans were crushed to death in Britain in April 1989 when an enclosed, packed venue collapsed at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield.
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Indonesia will host the FIFA U-20 World Cup in May and June next year. They are also one of three countries shortlisted to host next year’s Asian Cup, the continent’s equivalent of the Euros, after China pulled out as hosts.
