Huge football tragedy in Indonesia! More than 100 fans died at a football match due to trampling and suffocation

A huge disaster happened in Indonesia. At a football derby between Arema and Pesebaya, over 100 people died after some fans invaded the pitch and police officers tried to disperse them with tear gas. Subsequently, there was a crush and then the deaths of many people.

The day of 1 October 2022 will be indelibly etched in the history of football tragedies. Saturday saw one of the biggest, with up to 170 people killed in Indonesia, according to the latest information.

The match between Arema and Persebaya ended in victory for the visitors, who were able to enjoy a successful derby. The home team were not satisfied and 3,000 of them invaded the pitch.

The police tried to disperse them with tear gas, foreshadowing the tragedy. In an attempt to escape, some fell to the ground and were subsequently trampled.

A scuffle ensued during which other fans who could not get out were suffocated. There were about 4,000 more people in the stadium than the maximum capacity.

“Thirty-four people died in the stadium and the rest succumbed to their injuries in hospital,” local police chief Nico Afinta said in a statement, according to AFP. However, there was more violence outside the stadium.

“It was anarchic. They started attacking police officers, damaging cars,” Afinta said, adding that two police officers also died. What is also sad about the situation is that FIFA bans the use of tear gas for the purpose of dispersing crowds, which unfortunately did not happen here.

The Indonesian Football Association has already launched an investigation and the country’s president has subsequently suspended all matches in the top competition pending an investigation.

Source: BBC