Over 127 people died and 180 are injured after a stampede at a soccer game in Indonesia

Fans of Arema FC and rival Persebaya Surabaya got into fights after the home team Arema FC was defeated at a match in the city of Malang in East Java.

A statement from local police said supporters of Arema FC stormed the field at the Kanjuruhan stadium in the eastern city of Malang after their team lost 3-2 to Persebaya Surabaya on Saturday night.

Supporters from the losing team “invaded” the field and police fired tear gas, causing a stampede which led to cases of suffocation, East Java police chief Nico Afinta said during a press conference following the event.

Police fired tear gas to control the “riots,” triggering a stampede and cases of suffocation, said East Java Police Chief Nico Afinta.

Video footage shows people being beaten very harshly.

NEW – Over 100 people were killed tonight in riots that broke out at a football match in Indonesia.pic.twitter.com/hGZEwQyHmL

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) October 1, 2022

“In the incident, 127 people died, two of whom are police officers. Thirty-four people died inside the stadium and the rest died in hospital,” he said in the statement.

“They went out to one point at the exit. Then there was a buildup, in the process of accumulation there was shortness of breath, lack of oxygen,” he added.

Video footage from local news media show people rushing onto the field as well as images of body bags.

People turned blue after being attacked.

#Update: Just in – Shocking video footage showing you dead people turned blue duo to the extreme tear gas that was being used and thrown at fans by riot police, between a football match of Arema and Persebaya, resulting in 127 dead and 180 people injured in #Indonesia. pic.twitter.com/1NyhDKojKa

— Sotiri Dimpinoudis (@sotiridi) October 1, 2022

The Indonesian government has apologized for the incident and promised to investigate the circumstances surrounding the stampede.

“We’re sorry for this incident… this is a regrettable incident that ‘injures’ our football at a time when supporters can watch football matches from the stadium,” Indonesian Sports and Youth Minister Zainudin Amali told broadcaster Kompas.

The Indonesian top league BRI Liga 1 has suspended games for a week following the match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya. The two teams are resentful rivals and this was Arema FC’s first loss to Persebaya Surabaya in over 20 years.

Banning Supporters Might Decrease Revenue…

“We will thoroughly evaluate the organization of the match and the attendance of supporters. Will we return to banning supporters from attending the matches? That is what we will discuss.”

The lengths people will go to over a sports game…