By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar
JAKARTA, Oct 2 (Bernama) — Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Sunday called for a full investigation on the football tragedy at the Kanjuruhan Stadium, in Malang, East Java where 129 people died after a riot erupted on the pitch following a football match on Saturday night.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports, All-Indonesia Football Association (PSSI) and the police have been ordered to conduct a comprehensive evaluation on the manner the matches were carried out and safety the procedures involved.
“I regret that this tragedy had happened and hope that this will be the last one in our country. There should not be another humanitarian crisis like this in our country,” he said in a statement.
The tragedy that occurred after the match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya also left another 180 injured, according to East Java police.
East Java police chief Inspector General Nico Afinta said Arema supporters who were incensed after their team went down 3-2 in a East Java derby match entered the pitch to confront the players and team officials.
Anti-riot police tried coaxing the supporters to get back to the stand but they turned unruly prompting the police to fire tear gas, leading to a stampede when the supporters tried to run out.
“There were jostling at one of the exits, if I am not mistaken Gate 10 or Gate 12 where some suffered asphyxiation and emergency teams tried to save them,” said Nico.
Tear gas was also fired outside the stadium towards rioters who threw objects at the Persebaya Surabaya club entourage’s convoy.
Several supporters of Arema FC and security personnel were also injured outside the stadium with 13 police vehicles damaged and set on fire.
Meanwhile, PSSI chief Mochamad Iriawan announced the 2022-2023 season of League 1 has been suspended for a week, with Arema FC prohibited from hosting the remaining matches.
“We apologise to the families of the victims and all parties over the incident,” he said.
He said the PSSI has dispatched an investigation team to Malang and will cooperate with the police in the investigation over the incident that has marred the image of Indonesian football.
Arema FC on its part has set up a Crisis Management Centre to relay information and is ready to compensate the victims.
The League 1 clubs in Indonesia also conveyed their condolences to the victms over the tragedy.
In KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysian Football Association and Johor Darul Ta’zim Football Club (JDT FC) also extended their condolences to the victims.
“Our prayers and thoughts are with you. There is no place in football for an incident like this where lives are lost,” according to a JDT FC Facebook post.
The Saturday night insident is among the most tragic involving football fans.
In 1964, 318 people were killed and 500 injured during an Olympic qualifying match between Peru and Argentina at National Stadium in Lima, Peru.
In 2001, tear gas was fired towards unruly supporters during a match between Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko in Ghana, Africa where 70,000 fans attempted to rush out from the stadium prompting a stampede that left 126 people dead.
— BERNAMA