The invasion of the field after a football match and the intervention of the police caused a deadly crowd movement, Saturday, October 1, in Malang, on the island of Java (Indonesia). According to the local police, 129 people died and 180 were injured, a toll which could still increase. The reasons for such a tragedy remain unclear.
Arema FC, a first division team, hosted a rival club from the same region, Persebaya Surabaya. At the end of the match, won by the visitors, around 3,000 local supporters entered the lawn of the Kanjuruhan stadium. The police refer to “riots” and claims that two police officers were killed, in circumstances still unknown. Photos show in particular a destroyed police vehicle on the lawn.
The police then tried to persuade the fans to return to the stands and used tear gas. Images filmed from the stadium show many spectators panicking, trying to escape, in particular by clinging to the barriers.
“At one point they headed for the exit. But there was a build-up [de personnes] and, in this process of accumulation [les gens] gasped, lack of oxygen”, local police chief Nico Afinta said in a statement. According to him, 34 victims died on the spot, and the others in hospital. Authorities say 42,000 people attended the meeting.
Clashes appear to have continued outside the stadium, where photos Sunday morning show several charred security forces vehicles. Police report 13 vehicles destroyed.
A surviving spectator, interviewed by AFP, questioned the attitude of the police. “IThere was nothing, no riots”says Doni. “I don’t know what happened, they suddenly fired tear gas. (…) People immediately rushed out pushing each other and it caused a lot of casualties.”
“We are sorry for this incident” reacted the Indonesian Minister of Sports, Zainudin Amali, on the Indonesian channel Kompas. The country’s president, Joko Widodo, on Sunday ordered the suspension of all matches and “a comprehensive assessment of football matches and security procedures”.
Fan violence is a known problem in Indonesia, and has occasionally resulted in fatal clashes. On Saturday, Persebaya Surabaya supporters were barred from buying tickets for the game against their rivals for fear of incidents.