Indonesia: 175 people dead in Soccer melee, stamped

One of the world's worst stadium disasters occurred on Saturday night during a soccer match stampede in Malang, East Java, Indonesia.

        Indonesia stadium disaster. photo credit: the news.                  October 03.2022

175 people were killed and 180 injured when the supporters of the losing team, invaded the pitch after the final whistle and allegedly started agitation resulting in the use of tear gas by police officers. 

Regions police chief Nico Afinta told reporters that "It had gotten anarchic. The agitators started attacking officers, and killed 2 of the officers,  they damaged cars," Nico added that the crush occurred when fans fled for an exit gate.

                                             photo credit: tribune.pk

Many victims at the nearby Kanjuruhan hospital suffered from trauma, shortness of breath, and a lack of oxygen due to a large number of people at the scene affected by tear gas, said hospital administration.

The head of another hospital in the area told reporters that some victims had sustained head injuries and that the fatalities included a minor of 5 years.

President Joko Widodo ordered a thorough investigation into the incident and said authorities must thoroughly evaluate security at matches and suspended all further matches until satisfactory security arrangements.

Amnesty International Indonesia has called on the Indonesian authorities to conduct an impartial and independent investigation into the incident of the use of tear gas at the stadium and demanded to try the case in open court. 

Tear gas rules,

 FIFA, which regulates world soccer, specifies in its safety regulations that no firearms or "crowd control gas" should be carried or used by stewards or police during a soccer match.

                                                        Photo credit: FIFA

flags fly half-mast at FIFA headquarters in tribute to the martyrs of the incident.                                                                                                                   

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement on the official website of FIFA that the football world was in a state of shock following the tragic incidents that have taken place in Indonesia" and the event was a "dark day for all involved".

FIFA has requested a detailed report on the incident from PSSI, the football association of Indonesia, which has sent a team to Malang to investigate the incident, PSSI secretary general Yunus Nusi told reporters.

Indonesia's human rights commission also plans to investigate security at the grounds, including the use of tear gas and use of power by police.