As a result of fans flooding the pitch and starting a stampede that necessitated police to deploy tear gas to control in East Java province, Indonesia, a football stadium experienced at least 174 fatalities and 180 injuries. After the former team lost the match in Malang Regency, East Java, a brawl between the supporters of the two Javanese clubs, Arema and Persebaya Surabaya, occurred.
On Saturday night, the eastern city of Malang witnessed one of the most wounded athletic stadium mishaps in history. When trying to convince the supporters to return to the stands where two police officers were slain, the police were forced to use tear gas shells.
The authorities claim that several people who died were either stomped or choked to death. The police had claimed that as people scurried for one escape, many were crushed and trampled. According to the hospital director, one of the victims was a 5-year-old child. Images taken during the stampede showed a lot of tear gas being used and people scaling fences. Additionally, individuals were observed escorting injured spectators through the crowd.
After their team fell, apparently thousands of Arema fans flooded the field, igniting fights. According to East Java police commander Nico Afinta, Arema supporters had entered the field, forcing police to use tear gas, which caused a rush and asphyxia. After fights between supporters and police on Saturday, Indonesian President Joko Widodo ordered a safety assessment of the nation’s football matches on Sunday.
Images and video footage of people rushing onto the field in the Malang stadium were posted on social media. Meanwhile, after a stampede claimed the lives of 127 people, Indonesia’s sports minister Zainudin Amali told Reuters that authorities will review safety at football matches and possibly ban spectators.
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Indonesia’s football organization (PSSI), which expressed sadness over the event, announced that a team had left for Malang to begin an investigation into what transpired after the game. The use of tear gas in local security will now be investigated by Indonesia’s human rights committee.
