At least 127 people were killed in the city of Malang, in the Indonesian province of East Java, following the clashes that broke out at the end of the football match between Arema FC and Persebaya.
"127 people died in the accident, two of whom were officers. Thirty-four people died inside the stadium and the others died in the hospital," said East Java Police Chief Nico Afinta.
Akhmad Hadian Lukita, president of PT Liga Indonesia Baru (LIB),
said
:
"We are deeply concerned and deeply regret this incident. We share our condolences and hope this will be a valuable lesson for us all."
Persebaya's official twitter account posted: “
Persebaya's extended family deeply mourns the loss of life after the match between Arema FC and Persebaya.
No single life is worth football.
We pray for the victims and that the remaining families have strength ”.
The remaining BRI Liga 1 matches scheduled for this week have been suspended following the incident, while the Indonesian FA has confirmed that Arema will no longer host matches for the remainder of the season.
Persebaya Surabaya won the match - an East Jarva derby - 3-2 which prompted thousands of Arema FC fans to enter the pitch from the stands.
This resulted in more local policemen and members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces moving to bolster security, with Persebaya players escorted off the pitch and to safety.
Local media reports that skirmishes then broke out between security forces and fans on the pitch, with objects being thrown before security officers started using tear gas. This is said to have caused mass panic among fans, as they attempted to escape the gas and, in doing so, many fell to the ground and were inadvertently stepped on by others.