A terrifying stampede post a football match has wreaked havoc in Indonesia’s East Java leaving at least 129 dead. The situation erupted after a group of spectators resorted to riots which prompted police to make use of tear gas.
Arema FC was playing Peresebaya Surabaya in a match which resulted in the former’s defeat, frustrated over defeat against the long-time arch rivals Arema FC’s supporters unleashed the carnage inside the stadium which even left 180 injured.
While briefing the press about the incident which is being regarded as one of the most horrific incidents in sporting history, the country’s Chief Security Minister said that the stadium exceeded by 4, 000 from its maximum capacity by the supporters from either team.
The incident has prompted Indonesian President Joko Widodo to pronounce the cancellation of all the Top Leagues Matches in the country until an investigation has been concluded.
Visuals from the scene show the audience running onto the pitch soon after the final whistle, prompting defensive action from the security personnel present during the match, when the situation turned worse they resorted to tear gas, which eventually led to a crowd stampede and cases of suffocation.
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129 killed in riot & stampede at football match in Indonesia after home team’s loss to arch rival in East Java pic.twitter.com/aIJiILHiyM
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) October 2, 2022
While other visuals show fans climbing from the fences many others showed lifeless bodies on the floor all around.
World’s Football governing body stated that no “crowd control gas” should be carried by the security personnel deployed on the duty.
The Indonesian football association (PSSI) said it had launched an investigation, adding that the incident had "tarnished the face of Indonesian football".
History has recorded such incidents in the past as well which is being regarded as the most catastrophic in history tarnishing its image, 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 a similar case, a total of 97 Liverpool fans died in a 1989 match at the Hillsborough Stadium in England’s Sheffield.