At least 174 people were killed during a riot and stampede at a soccer game in Indonesia in one of the deadliest disasters in the sport’s history, government officials said.
The disaster, which left at least 180 people injured, prompted the country’s president, Joko Widodo, to halt top-flight games in the country pending a safety investigation into the sport.
The match in Surabaya, in Indonesia’s East Java province, between local rivals Arema and Persebaya erupted in violence after thousands of fans stormed the pitch, police said on Sunday, adding that the death toll could continue to rise.
East Java Police Chief Nico Afinta said the crowd consisted entirely of fans of Arema, the home team that lost the game 3-2, while Persebaya fans looked on practically from the provincial capital, Surabaya.
The chaos erupted after police fired tear gas as fans “got anarchic” and stormed the pitch, sparking a stampede that saw people kicked and suffocated, Afinta said. Two police officers were among those killed.
The tragedy has dealt a serious blow to Indonesia’s reputation as a venue for high-profile international sporting events. The country is hosting the 2023 FIFA World Cup under-20 men and is bidding to host next year’s Asian Cup.
FIFA has banned the use of tear gas in games to control crowds.
Footage released by local media and online showed crowds overturning and setting fire to police vehicles and pursuing Persebaya players and officials.
President Widodo said he “regrets” the incidents and ordered a thorough investigation.
“I hope this will be the last football tragedy in the country,” he added.
Up to 42,000 tickets have been sold for the game at Kanjuruhan Stadium in East Java, even though it officially only seats 38,000, Indonesia’s Politics, Law and Security Minister Mahfud MD said in an Instagram post.
The PSSI, the Football Association of Indonesia, has banned Arema from hosting games for the remainder of the season, its chairman said in a statement.
Sports and Youth Minister Zainudin Amali told CNN Indonesia that he was coordinating with the national police and the head of the PSSI to identify “those responsible” for the disaster. He also told local media the ministry will consider barring spectators from the stadiums.
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