"Civilization is like a thin layer of ice upon a deep ocean of chaos and darkness": 129 people died in a stampede at an Indonesian football match in one of the world's worst stadium disasters, President called this to be "last soccer tragedy in the nation
At least 129 football fans are reported to have died in Indonesia after a riot broke out following Arema FC's league clash against Persebaya Surabaya.
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Multiple local media outlets have reported the figure - which has risen throughout the evening - of fans who died on the pitch at the Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang after a pitch invasion at the end of the match. Many supporters were rushed to the local Kanjuruhan Hospital and Wava Husada Hospital.
East Java Police Chief Nico Afinta has said that around 180 people are injured, but many of them are in a deteriorating condition. Two police officers are believed to have died in the incident.
Akhmad Hadian Lukita, the president of PT Liga Indonesia Baru (LIB), has said : "We are concerned and deeply regret this incident. We share our condolences and hopefully this will be a valuable lesson for all of us."
Persebaya’s official Twitter account posted on Saturday evening: “Persebaya's extended family deeply mourns the loss of life after the Arema FC vs Persebaya match. No single life is worth football. We pray for the victims and may the families left behind be given strength.”
All remaining BRI Liga 1 fixtures scheduled for this week have been suspended following the incident, while the Indonesian FA have confirmed Arema will not host any more games for the rest of the season.
Persebaya Surabaya won the match – an East Jarva derby – 3-2 which prompted thousands of fans of Arema FC to enter the field of play from the stands. This led to multiple local police and members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces moving to enforce security, with players of Persebaya escorted off the field of play and to safety.
Local media report that skirmishes then broke out between the security forces and the fans on the pitch, with objects being thrown before security officers then began using tear gas. It is reported by Suryamalang that this was used both on fans on the pitch and those in the stands.
Fifa, the world's governing football body, states that no "crowd control gas" should be carried or used by stewards or police at matches.
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The Indonesian football association (PSSI) said it had launched an investigation, adding that the incident had "tarnished the face of Indonesian football".
Violence at football matches is not new in Indonesia, and Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya are long-time rivals.
Persebaya Surabaya fans were banned from buying tickets for the game because of fears of clashes.
But Chief Security Minister Mahfud MD posted on Instagram that 42,000 tickets had been sold for the match at the Kanjuruhan stadium, which has a capacity of 38,000.
President Widodo called for this to be the "last soccer tragedy in the nation" after ordering that all Liga 1 games should be paused pending an investigation.
The stampede is the latest in a long line of disasters at stadiums.
In 1964, a total of 320 people were killed and more than 1,000 injured during a stampede at a Peru-Argentina Olympic qualifier in Lima.
In the UK, 97 Liverpool fans were crushed to death in 1989 at the Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield.
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