JAKARTA, 2 Oct 2022:
At least 127 people, including two policemen, died and almost 200 were injured in an outbreak of violence at a soccer match – when supporters jumped onto the field following their team’s loss on the Indonesian island of Java, police sources reported today.
Police, who used tear gas, said the disturbances occurred last night at the Kanjuruhan stadium – in the province of East Java – in a match where Arema was defeated 2-3 by Persebaya Surabaya.
East Java police chief Nico Afinta said at a press conference that 24 people lost their lives inside the stadium, while others died in hospital.
At least 180 people were injured in the events and are under medical treatment.
Afinta said most of the deaths occurred as a result of a stampede, who were trying to flee the fighting, where dozens of them suffocated.
“It was a space full of people, which caused difficulty in breathing, lack of oxygen, which the medical team and the joint team tried to facilitate in the stadium.”
The spiral of violence began when nearly 3,000 fans of the losing team stormed the pitch and began attacking players – sparking a fierce clash with security forces, who used tear gas to stop the attacks.
Photos and videos on social media show how a crowd invaded the field, while teams and referees quickly tried to evacuate the pitch.
After the incident, the Indonesian Football League suspended all matches for a week, while the country’s soccer association announced the opening of a fact-finding investigation.
“(The league) regrets the actions of Arema fans at Kanjuruhan Stadium. We are sorry and apologise to the families of the victims and to everyone for the incident. (The league) immediately formed an investigation team,” Mochamad Iriawan, the league’s president, said in a statement, adding that the event “is tarnishing the image of Indonesian soccer.”
– EFE