A clash between fans after a soccer match between clubs Arema and Persebaya Surabaya in Indonesia left more than 120 killed. Here’s what happened according to reports.
A match between Javanese clubs Arema and Persebaya Surabaya ended in tragedy after supporters of both teams clashed on the pitch after Arema lost 3-2. According to the police chief in East Java province, 127 people were killed, several reports said.
The recent media reports state that At least 174 people have died and hundreds more were injured after a stampede broke out at a football match in Indonesia, becoming one of the world’s worst stadium disasters.
Rival clubs Arema and Persebaya Surabaya squared off as the latter won 3-2 in Malang Regency, East Java.
Authorities fired tear gas when fans from the losing side started invading the pitch.
That panic resulted in thousands heading towards the exits at Stadion Kanjuruhan, where many suffocated in a crowd crush
Meanwhile, 180 are injured, Bega District News reports. The Guardian, on the other hand, reports that police are still collecting the number of injured victims. According to the Associated Press, two of the fatal victims were police officers.
“More than 120 people died, they died of chaos, overcrowding, trampling and suffocation,” Malang Regency Health Office Wiyanto Wijoyo said. The Indonesian league was suspended for a week due to the incident. Here’s what caused the riot.
What was the cause of the riot between supporters?
According to The Guardian, the fighting between fans started when “thousands of Arema fans ran onto the pitch after their team lost. The Persebay players immediately left the field, but several Arema players who were still on the field were also attacked.
However, the same reports indicated that many of the fatalities were the result of police firing tear gas into the crowded stands, sparking further panic. Meantime,
The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) will launch an investigation to find out exactly what happened after the match.
On the other hand, League officials, who did not confirm the death toll, said the violence caused several deaths. “We are concerned and deeply regret this incident,” said Akhmad Hadian Lukita, president director of PT Liga Indonesia Baru. “We share our condolences and hope this will be a valuable lesson for all of us.”
According to Infobae, these incidents would be the third-highest number of deaths related to sporting events. The worst happened in Peru in 1964, in a match against an Argentine team that left more than 300 dead. Then a battle between local fans and the police during a match between Napoli and Bologna in 1944 killed 152 people.
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