At least 125 people are reportedly dead with many more injured after an Indonesian football match Saturday.
The violence occurred in the aftermath of Arema FC’s 3-2 loss to Persebaya Surabaya when supporters from both clubs clashed on the pitch. The situation was worsened when police shot tear gas into the crowds causing a panic that very well could’ve contributed to the death toll.
Officers fired tear gas in an attempt to disperse agitated supporters of the losing home side who had invaded the pitch after the final whistle in Malang, East Java, on Saturday night, the region’s police chief Nico Afinta told reporters.
“It had gotten anarchic. They started attacking officers, they damaged cars,” Nico said, adding that the crush occurred when fans fled for an exit gate.
Reuters
There were as many as 174 people reported dead, however, East Java Deputy Governor Emil Dardak clarified the number saying that the earlier figure could’ve included “duplicate fatalities”.
Police responsible for the one of the worlds worst stadium disasters
According to a local paramedic Boby Prabowo, many of the victims suffered from trauma, shortness of breath, and a lack of oxygen due to the large number of people at the scene affected by tear gas.
Speaking of tear gas, FIFA has specific rules stating that no firearms or “crowd control gas” should be used by stewards or police, which Saturday’s tragedy shows why.
FIFA in turn has requested a report from the Football Association of Indonesia, PSSI, as that country’s governing body over the sport has suspended all remaining games this week to launch an investigation.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s human rights commission will also launch an investigation into security and their tactics to subdue the crowd. Amnesty International Indonesia also blasted the security measures saying, the “use of excessive force by the state … to contain or control such crowds cannot be justified at all”.