October 2, (THEWILL) – Violence erupted following a match between bitter rivals Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya, on Saturday in Indonesian Liga 1, resulting in at least 129 deaths and 180 injuries.
After the home team, Arema, lost 3-2, rioting supporters rushed onto the field. Police used tear gas to try to break them up. According to Nico Afinta, the head of the East Java police department, victims were smothered and crushed while rushing for the same escape.
Afinta said 3,000 of the roughly 40,000 people present invaded the field, sparking “riots” which required security and law enforcement to intervene with tear gas. “That process caused shortness of breath [and] lack of oxygen and medical teams tried to do rescue efforts in the stadium”, he said.
Images taken inside the stadium show people frantically climbing over fences, and shots taken outside the stadium show charred cars, including a police car. Based on data from local hospitals, Widjanto Widjoyo, the health chief for Malang, estimated there had been 129 fatalities. At least two police officers were among them.
The Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) has already banned Arema from hosting matches for the balance of the season and announced an investigation into the reason for the crush.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
