At least 127 people were killed following angry fans stormed the field following a game of football in Malang, Indonesia, on Saturday night, police said.
“In the incident, 127 people were killed, including two policemen. Another 34 people died inside the stadium and the rest in hospital,” East Java province police chief Nico Afinta said in a statement on Sunday.
As reported by the newspapers Compass y MediaIndonesia there are also 180 wounded, who are being treated in hospitals in the area.
Arema FC supporters stormed the pitch at Karnjurhan Stadium in the eastern city of Malang following their team lost 3-2 to Persebaya Surabaya, the first loss to their arch-rivals in more than two decades.
Police tried to persuade fans to return to the stands and fired tear gas following two police officers were killed. Many of the victims were trampled to death.
Afinta pointed out that the fans “at one point went to the exit. There was a congestion and in the process of accumulation they ran out of air.”
Exemplary punishment for Arema FC
The Indonesian government apologized for the incident and promised to investigate the circumstances of the stampede.
“We regret this incident (…) It is a regrettable incident that ‘injures’ our football at a time when fans can go to the stadium to watch football matches,” Indonesian Minister of Sport and Youth Zainudin Amali told reporters. the Kompas network.
“We rigorously evaluate the organization of the match and the presence of fans. Will we once more ban the presence of fans in matches? That is what we will discuss,” he added.
Although it transpired that the Arema FC He was notified that he will not play in his stadium once more for the remainder of the season. In addition, in any scenario you play, no public will enter.
(With information from AFP)
The media reports on the tragedy in Indonesia
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