After the deadly stampede at a football stadium on the Indonesian island of Java, the government of the island nation met security officials for a special meeting and appointed a team of experts to investigate the incidents.

The Joint Independent Fact Finding Team will be made up of government officials, football association officials, experts, academics and journalists, said Security Minister Mohammad Mahfud.

"The team is expected to complete its work in two or three weeks," Mahfud said.

The government has also instructed the National Police to investigate people who may be responsible for the tragedy "in the next few days".

Playfield storm after home defeat

Riots broke out on Saturday evening after Arema FC and Persebaya FC's first division match in the city of Malang in East Java province.

Following Arema's 2-3 home defeat, around 3,000 spectators stormed the pitch at Kanjuruhan Stadium.

The police used tear gas.

A mass panic ensued, and for many there was no escape.

Many of the victims are said to have died from a lack of oxygen, while others were apparently trampled to death.

Two police officers are also among the dead.

According to the authorities, more than 300 people were injured, some seriously.

It is one of the worst stadium disasters in football history.

Tear gas use against FIFA rules

Human rights activists called for detailed investigations.

Both police commanders and rank and file officials must be held accountable for deciding to fire "significant and excessive amounts of tear gas," said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

"FIFA's own rules prohibit the use of 'crowd control gas' in stadiums," he stressed.

The Indonesian newspaper "Jakarta Post" also blamed the security forces for the accident on Monday.

She wrote: "The most worrying thing is that if the police had avoided such excessive, unnecessary force, we could have been spared this disaster." A thorough investigation into the incident is a must, the newspaper wrote.

The consequences of the Malang tragedy will be far-reaching, the paper warned.

Indonesia country faces a ban on participating in or hosting international competitions because of the use of tear gas, which is strictly prohibited by FIFA regulations.

The FIFA U-20 World Cup is set to be held in football-mad Indonesia next year.

The island nation has also applied for the 2023 Asian Soccer Championship.