The match took place in Malang City, located in East Java Indonesia, ended up as one of the deadliest tragedies in the football history.
The local Arema FC lost at home 3-2 to rivals Persebaya Surabaya in the Indonesian League, and after the match the supporters of the losing team known as Aremania invaded the field throwing objects and bottles at players and football officials.
The baton-wielding riot police had to fire tear gas to control the situation on the field and the stands and there is where the stampede started.
The Indonesian Police Chief in East Java province, Nico Afinta, said that “34 people died inside the stadium” and more than 300 fans were rushed to the hospital but many of them died on their way to the medical centre because of the inhalation of tear gas or being trampled under a stampede.
At the same time, Mr. Afinta told media that the death tool is likely to increase due many of the 180 injured are receiving intensive treatment at various hospitals.
The rioting spread outside of the Kanjuruhan Stadium where police vehicles were overturned and set on fire and bricks hurled at passing vechiles amid the chaos.
Jodo Widodo, Indonesian President, expressed his condolences for the dead in television 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.
The Indonesian League got suspended for instruction of the President Widodo, until security procedures were evaluated and improved.
