125 fans have died from a stampede after the Indonesian police fired tear gas at an Indonesian soccer match to drive away fans upset with their team’s loss.
The actions of the police caused panic and a chaotic run for the exits and most of the fans were trampled upon or suffocated, making it one of the deadliest sports events in the world.
The witnesses described police beat them with sticks and shields before shooting canisters directly into the crowds.
The president of FIFA called the deaths at the stadium “a dark day for all involved in football and a tragedy beyond comprehension,” while President Joko Widodo ordered an investigation of security procedures.
While FIFA has no control over domestic games, it has advised against the use of tear gas at soccer stadiums.
Violence broke out in Indonesia, after the game ended Saturday evening with host Arema FC of East Java’s Malang city losing to Persebaya of Surabaya 3-2. The home side supporters were very angry with their team’s play.
The violence spread outside the stadium where at least five police vehicles were toppled and set ablaze. Riot police responded by firing tear gas, including toward the stadium’s stands, causing panic among the crowd.
Spectator Ahmad Fatoni said:
“Officers fired tear gas directly at spectators in the stands, forcing us to run toward the exit. Many victims fell because of shortness of breath and difficulty seeing due to tear gas and were trampled.”
In the chaos, 34 died at the stadium, including two officers, and some reports include children among the casualties.
In a news conference, East Java police chief Nico Afinta said:
“We have already done a preventive action before finally firing the tear gas as (fans) began to attack the police, acting anarchically and burning vehicles.”
Ferli Hidayat, local police chief of Malang, said there were some 42,000 spectators at the game Saturday, all of whom were Arema supporters because the organizer had banned Persebaya fans from entering the stadium in an effort to avoid brawls.