At least 129 people have been killed and dozens injured in a stampede after violence at a soccer match in Indonesia, reported by citing police. The incident occurred on Saturday night during a football match of Indonesia’s top league BRI Liga 1 at the Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang Regency, East Java. Indonesian East Java police chief Nico Afinta told reporters that authorities had to use tear gas after supporters from the losing side stormed the pitch after a match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya, leading to a stampede and cases of suffocation.
“Thirty-four people died in the stadium and the rest died in hospital,” Nico said in a statement on Sunday. Video footage posted on social media showed people rushing onto the pitch at Malang Stadium and images of body bags. “It became anarchic. They started attacking officers, damaging cars,” Nico said, adding that the stampede occurred as fans fled for the exits.
The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) issued a statement late on Saturday expressing regret over the incident and saying the team had gone to Malang to launch an investigation into what happened after the match. “PSSI regrets the actions of Arema supporters at Kanjuruhan Stadium. We regret and apologize to the families of the victims and all parties for the incident. For this, PSSI immediately formed an investigation team and immediately went to Malang,” the statement said.
The league suspended games for a week after the riots left at least 127 dead and 180 injured. Arema FC are also banned from visiting for the rest of the competition this season. “We announced the decision after receiving an instruction from the PSSI chairman. We are doing this to respect everything and await the investigation process from the PSSI,” said president and director of league owner PT LIB Akhmad Hadian Lukita.
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