Indonesian professional football experienced this Saturday a tragic day, then that a confrontation between supporters of Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya generated police intervention to dissuade the rioters, which caused more violence and an unofficial death toll of more than 100 people.
According to official reports, at least 129 people died as a result of the serious eventsmany of them on the field of play” at the Kanjuruham Stadium in Malang.
The riots occurred following the referee whistled to close the match and the Persebaya team won the East Java classic, 3-2. Thus, the supporters of Arema FC, annoyed with the performance of the judge, jumped en masse into the field of play.
Likewise, the authorities indicated that many of the people died from the chaospressed once morest each other, because of the pushing, trampling and suffocation.
The event in Indonesia brings to mind the Heysel Stadium tragedy in Brussels (Belgium)since in a similar event, on May 29, 1985, 39 fans died minutes before the start of the European Cup final between Juventus Turin and Liverpool.