Dozens killed, many hurt at Indonesia football match: Police | News

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Police fire tear gas after fans invade the pitch, triggering a stampede and killing 127 people and wounding 180 more.

Indonesian police say at least 127 people were killed and 180 injured after a stampede at a football match in the province of East Java.

In a statement on Sunday, the East Java police said supporters of Arema FC stormed the pitch at the Kanjuruhan stadium in the eastern city of Malang after their team lost 3-2 to Persebaya Surabaya on Saturday night.

Police fired tear gas to control the “riots”, triggering a stampede and cases of suffocation, said East Java Police Chief Nico Afinta.

“In the incident, 127 people died, two of whom are police officers. Thirty-four people died inside the stadium and the rest died in hospital,” he said in the statement.

“They went out to one point at the exit. Then there was a buildup, in the process of accumulation there was shortness of breath, lack of oxygen,” he added.

Video footage from local news channels showed people rushing onto the pitch and images of body bags.

The Indonesian top league BRI Liga 1 has suspended games for a week following the match. The two teams are bitter rivals and the match marked Arema FC’s first loss to Persebaya Surabaya in more than two decades.

The Indonesian government has apologized for the incident and promised to investigate the circumstances surrounding the stampede.

“We’re sorry for this incident… this is a regrettable incident that ‘injures’ our football at a time when supporters can watch football matches from the stadium,” Indonesian Sports and Youth Minister Zainudin Amali told broadcaster Kompas.

“We will thoroughly evaluate the organization of the match and the attendance of supporters. Will we return to banning supporters from attending the matches? That is what we will discuss.”