Status: 02.10.2022 06:06 a.m
After a football game in Indonesia, thousands of spectators stormed the square. When the police used tear gas, mass panic broke out. At least 129 people died. 180 others were injured.
At least 129 people were killed in serious riots following a soccer match in the Indonesian province of East Java. Two police officers were among the dead, the Indonesian police said. In addition, 180 people were injured. After the end of the game between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya, supporters of the defeated team stormed the field.
Stampede broke out when police used tear gas, East Java Police Chief Nico Afinta told reporters. 34 people died on the field of Kanjuruhan Stadium, all others in hospitals, Afinta said, according to radio station Elshinta and station tvOne.
Trampled to death
The Kanjuruhan Stadium holds a total of 42,000 spectators and was sold out according to the authorities. According to the police, 3,000 people stormed the square. “We would like to point out that not everyone was anarchic, there were only about 3000 who took the field,” said the local police chief. Footage from inside the stadium showed people climbing over fences and others carrying injured people. Flared vehicles, including a police vehicle, lined the streets in front of the stadium.
According to police chief inspector Afinta, most people died from a lack of oxygen. Many of the victims were trampled to death. Thirteen vehicles were damaged in the riots, including ten police vehicles.
Clubs express their condolences
The Arema and Persebaya football clubs expressed their condolences to the victims and their families. “Arema FC expresses its sincere condolences for the disaster in Kanjuruhan. Arema FC’s management is also responsible for dealing with the victims, both dead and injured,” said club boss Abdul Haris.
The club will set up a crisis center and a victim information center. “To the families of the victims, the management of Arema FC sincerely apologizes and stands ready to provide compensation. The management stands ready to accept proposals for dealing with the disaster so that many can be saved,” said Haris.
No home games for the rest of the season
The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) suspended play in the first division for a week. Arema were banned from playing home games for the remainder of the season. In addition, the association had set up an investigation team that was supposed to start work on Sunday.
“PSSI regrets the actions of Aremania supporters at Kanjuruhan Stadium. We apologize and apologize to the families of the victims and to everyone involved in the incident,” said federation chairman Mochamad Iriawan. The police will be assisted in the investigation. In Indonesia, the rivalry between clubs is so strong that there are frequent cases of violence among supporters at football matches.
Indonesian government announces review
The Indonesian government also apologized for the incident. She promised to investigate the circumstances of the stampede. “We regret this incident,” Indonesian Minister of Sports and Youth Zainudin Amali told Kompas television. He announced a thorough review of the game organization.
The organizers have ignored the authorities’ recommendation to hold the game in the afternoon instead of in the evening, Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD said. According to him, the government recommended printing only 38,000 tickets. Instead, all 42,000 stadium seats were sold.