Following violence at a football game in Indonesia, a stampede resulted in at least 129 killings and several injuries, according to Reuters’s reporting of police statements. The incident happened on Saturday night at the Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang Regency, East Java, during a football game in Indonesia’s top league, BRI Liga 1.
After a match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya, the losing team’s supporters invaded the field, causing a stampede and cases of suffocation, according to Nico Afinta, Indonesia’s police chief in the province of East Java. As a result, authorities had to use tear gas, he told reporters.
Nico stated in a statement on Sunday that “34 people perished within the stadium and the remainder died in hospitals.”
Images of body bags and video footage of people rushing onto the pitch in the Malang stadium were posted on social media.
“It had become chaotic. They began assaulting police officers, causing damage to cars, “Nico added, adding that the crowd swarmed to an exit gate as they escaped.
In a statement late Saturday night, the Indonesian football association (PSSI) expressed regret for the event and announced that a team had headed for Malang to begin an investigation into what happened after the game.
“PSSI regrets the actions of Arema supporters at the Kanjuruhan Stadium. We are sorry and apologize to the families of the victims and all parties for the incident. For that PSSI immediately formed an investigation team and immediately left for Malang,” the statement read.
After the unrest that resulted in at least 127 fatalities and 180 injuries, the league decided to postpone games for a week. Additionally, the Arema FC squad is not permitted to host any games for the remainder of the league this year.
“We announced the decision after we received a direction from the Chairman of PSSI. We are doing this to respect everything and while waiting for the investigation process from PSSI,” President Director of league owner PT LIB, Akhmad Hadian Lukita said.
The Chenab Times News Desk