174 killed in stampede riot at Indonesian football match, league suspended

olumorocktv

Oct 2

At least 174 people were killed and 180 were injured in a stampede and riot at a football match in Indonesia, in one of the world's worst stadium disasters.

Thousands of Arema FC fans descended on the ground in Malang, East Java, throwing bottles and other objects at players and officials after their team lost its first home game in 23 years.

The rioting spread outside the stadium where at least five police vehicles were overturned and set on fire amid the chaos.

Riot officers responded by firing tear gas – which is banned by Fifa – including towards the stadium's stands, causing panic among the crowd.

Some people suffocated and others were trampled as hundreds ran to the exit in an effort to avoid the tear gas.

In the chaos, 34 died at the stadium, including two officers. Children were also among the casualties, according to reports.

It instantly becomes one of the deadliest sporting events the world has ever seen.

More than 300 people were rushed to nearby hospitals but many died on the way and during treatment, East Java police chief Nico Afinta said.

This picture taken on October 1, 2022 shows a boy (C) being carried as members of the Indonesian army secure the pitch after a football match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya at Kanjuruhan stadium in Malang, East Java. - At least 127 people died at a football stadium in Indonesia late on October 1 when fans invaded the pitch and police responded with tear gas, triggering a stampede, officials said. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images) — **A boy is carried away by the Indonesian army after they secure the pitch (Picture: AFP)**

Members of the security force try to disperse the fans who invaded the soccer field after a match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya at Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang, Indonesia Oct 2, 2022 in this screen grab taken from a REUTERS video. REUTERS TV via REUTERS — **The security force try to disperse the fans who invaded the pitch (Picture: Reuters)**

Members of the security force help a player make his way out of the field after fans invaded the soccer field following a match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya at Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang, Indonesia Oct 2, 2022 in this screen grab taken from a REUTERS video. REUTERS TV via REUTERS — **Security try tp help a player make his way out of the field (Picture: Reuters)**

He said the death toll is likely to increase because many of the approximately 180 injured are deteriorating in intensive care.

Indonesia's football association, known as PSSI, has suspended the premier league Liga 1 indefinitely and banned Arema from hosting matches for the remainder of the season.

Television reports showed police and rescuers evacuating the injured and carrying the dead to ambulances.

Grieving relatives waited for information about their loved ones at Malang's Saiful Anwar General Hospital. Others tried to identify the bodies laid out at a morgue.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo expressed his deep condolences for the dead in televised comments on Sunday.

'I deeply regret this tragedy and I hope this is the last soccer tragedy in this country. Don't let another human tragedy like this happen in the future,' he said.

*** BESTPIX *** This picture shows torched vehicles outside Kanjuruhan stadium in Malang, East Java on October 2, 2022. - At least 127 people were killed when angry fans invaded a football pitch after a match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya in Malang, East Java in Indonesia late on October 1, police said. (Photo by PUTRI / AFP) (Photo by PUTRI/AFP via Getty Images) — **A car was torched outside the stadium in the riots (Picture: AFP)**

This picture taken on October 1, 2022 shows Indonesian army and police securing the pitch after a football match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya at Kanjuruhan stadium in Malang, East Java. - At least 127 people died at a football stadium in Indonesia late on October 1 when fans invaded the pitch and police responded with tear gas, triggering a stampede, officials said. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images) — **Indonesian soldiers and police descend on the pitch (Picture: AFP)**

This picture taken on October 1, 2022 shows members of the Indonesian army securing the pitch after a football match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya at Kanjuruhan stadium in Malang, East Java. - At least 127 people died at a football stadium in Indonesia late on October 1 when fans invaded the pitch and police responded with tear gas, triggering a stampede, officials said. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images) — **Indonesian army are sent in with riot shields (Picture: AFP)**

Fans invade the soccer field after a match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya at Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang, Indonesia Oct 2, 2022 in this screen grab taken from a REUTERS video. REUTERS TV via REUTERS — **Police fire tear gas at the fans (Picture: Reuters)**

'We must continue to maintain sportsmanship, humanity and a sense of brotherhood of the Indonesian nation.'

He ordered the youth and sports minister, the national police chief and the chairman of the PSSI to carry out a thorough assessment of the match and its security procedures.

He also ordered the PSSI to temporarily suspend Liga 1 until it can be evaluated and security procedures improved.

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