Indonesian police say at least 129 people have died in riots that followed a soccer match between two East Java teams in the city of Malang. There are also many wounded. The country’s president called it “the last football tragedy in Indonesia”.
At least 129 people were killed and 180 injured after rioting at Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang, after the Indonesian Football Premier League match between Arima FC and Persibaya Surabaya, Indonesia’s police chief, Nico Aventa, told reporters.
The crowd stormed the field
The match ended with a score of 3: 2 for the away team. Aventa reported that fans of the losing side stormed the pitch and used tear gas, which led to a state of panic. In the crowd, several people were run over or strangled.
Previously, 127 deaths were reported. Authorities said the death toll could rise because many of the wounded are seriously injured.
According to the police, 34 people died on the field, and the rest – in hospitals. Among the dead were two policemen. The clashes destroyed 13 cars, including 10 police cars.
League suspends matches temporarily
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has ordered the services to conduct an in-depth assessment of safety rules during football matches. The Indonesian Football Association also called for the suspension of the first league matches until the end of the investigation. The president called it “the last football tragedy in the country”.
The Indonesian Football Association has already decided to suspend the first league match for a week and open an investigation into the tragedy that occurred at Malang Stadium, one of the biggest events in the history of world football. Indonesia’s Sports Minister, Zainuddin Amali, told KompasTV that the ministry will re-evaluate safety at football matches, including a ban on spectators entering stadiums.
Main image source: PAP / EPA / H. Prabowo
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