One of the deadliest stadium tragedies in history occurred at an Indonesian football game, where at least 125 people perished in a crush.
In the aftermath of the local club Arema FC's defeat to ferocious rivals at the packed stadium late on Saturday in Malang, East Java, hundreds were also harmed.
After police used tear gas to disperse people who had entered the pitch, the crush occurred. Thousands rushed towards the exits of Kanjuruhan stadium as panic ensued; several of them suffocated.
According to Fifa, who oversees football worldwide, neither stewards nor police officers at games should possess nor employ "crowd control gas." According to one witness who spoke to the BBC, police shot multiple rounds of tear gas "continuously and rapidly" as the situation with the supporters became "heated."
It was "a horrible day for those involved in football and a tragedy beyond comprehension," according to Fifa President Gianni Infantino. "It had become chaotic." They began assaulting police officers, causing damage to automobiles, "East Java's police chief, Nico Afinta, said that two police officers were among the fatalities.
"We want to make it clear that not all of them practiced anarchism." "Less than 3,000 people entered the pitch," said he.
Running fans "went to a certain location at the exit." Then there was a buildup, and when that happened, there was oxygen deprivation and shortness of breath, "the officer continued.
Social media videos depict supporters scaling barriers to get away. Videos from many sources seem to depict motionless victims on the ground.
The act, according to the Indonesian football organization (PSSI), has "tarnished the face of Indonesian football," and an investigation has been opened.
"It had become anarchy," the police said.
The disaster's death toll was first reported by Indonesian officials to be as high as 174, but this number was eventually lowered lower.
All games in Indonesia's premier league must be postponed until an inquiry is completed, per a directive from President Joko Widodo.
Videos taken inside the stadium show supporters pouring onto the field following the final whistle, which signaled the home team's 2-3 loss, and police responding by using tear gas.
In Indonesia, there has always been violence at football games between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya.
Due to concerns about altercations, Persebaya Surabaya supporters were not permitted to purchase tickets for the game.
The match at Kanjuruhan stadium, which has a declared capacity of 38,000, had 42,000 tickets sold as of the time Mahfud MD, the chief security minister, posted on Instagram.
After directing that all Liga 1 matches be suspended while an inquiry is conducted, President Widodo urged that this be the "final soccer tragedy in the nation."
Eyewitness: "It was boom, bang, bang."
Muhamad Dipo Maulana, who was present at the game, told BBC Indonesian that some Arema supporters confronted the referee after the game concluded.
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One of the deadliest stadium tragedies in history occurred at an Indonesian football game, where at least 125 people perished in a crush.
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