More than 180 people were killed and more than 100 injured in riots after a soccer match in Malang, East Java, Indonesia. Police reported that most of the victims died in the crush that took place in Kanjuruhan Stadium In the end, the home team lost 2:3, the aremaagainst the Persebaya Surabaya.
The Dynamics of Tragedy
Furious at their first loss to their bitter rivals in more than 20 years, Arema fans stormed the field at the end of the game and attacked some players. The police used tear gas, even in the direction of the stands. At this point the crowd panicked and crowded together to flee. Dozens of people died from suffocation or trampling.
According to the data provided, there are 182 victims. “Thirty-four victims died at the stadium, the others in hospital,” the local police chief said in a statement. Nico Afinta.
Ferli HidayatChief of the local police in Malang, in the province East Javain Indonesia, where the tragedy occurred, said around 42,000 spectators were at the stadium on Saturday for the game, all Arema fans, because the organizer had banned fans Persebay enter the stadium to avoid brawls. The restriction was imposed after clashes in February 2020 between fans of the two rival football teams at East Java’s Blitar Stadium, which caused a total of Rs 250 million (US$18,000) in damage.
championship suspended
The carnage of Malang it is the most serious of a series of incidents and episodes of violence that have shaped Indonesian football over the years. The league suspended the championship for a week and decided that Arema will not host any more games this season.
president Joko Widodo He went over. He instructed the Minister for Sport and Youth, the chief of the national police and the head of the Football Association to carry out “a thorough review of security procedures” for football matches. And he has stated that top-flight games cannot resume until all investigations into the case are complete.
The government has promised to thoroughly investigate the causes of the tragedy. “We’re sorry,” said the Minister for Sport and Youth Zainudin Amali at the broadcaster Kompas. “We will carefully examine the organization of the game and the attendance of the fans. Will we go back to banning fans from the games? We will talk about that.” According to the Interior Minister Mahfoud MDthe stadium was packed: 42,000 tickets had been sold for 38,000 seats.
Infantino: “Football world in shock”
“The football world is in shock after the tragic events in Indonesia following the match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya at Kanjuruhan Stadium,” said the FIFA President. Gianni Infanta – This is a dark day for all involved in football and a tragedy beyond imagination. I offer my deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims who lost their lives in this tragic accident,” he added.
“Along with FIFA and to the global football community, all our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, the injured – Infantino stresses – along with the people of the Republic of Indonesia, the Asian Football Confederation, the Indonesian Football Confederation and the Football League Indonesia, at this difficult time”.