MADRID –
A minute’s silence was observed ahead of football matches around the world on Sunday to honor the victims of the disaster at a stadium in Indonesia that killed at least 125 people, and top players, coaches and leagues expressed their condolences and support.
Most of the victims were trampled or suffocated as chaos erupted Saturday night after a game between hosts Arema FC of the East Java city of Malang and Persebaya Surabaya. Witnesses described police officers beating fans with sticks and shields before firing tear gas canisters directly into the crowd in an attempt to stop the violence, but instead sparking a deadly scrum.
Following one of the world’s greatest sporting event tragedies, the Indonesian Football Confederation has indefinitely suspended top division 1 and banned Arema from hosting football matches for the remainder of the season.
Football leagues that observed a minute’s silence to honor the victims included Spain, Israel and the Netherlands.
In England, Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola spoke about the disaster after the Manchester derby in England.
“Terrible. Absolutely terrible. The world is crazy,” he said. “Best thoughts for the family and all.”
Manchester United manager Ten Hag said it was “truly a disaster… We are saddened by this and our thoughts are with all the individuals and families and people of Indonesia.”
Some fans reacted to the news before kick-off in Manchester.
“We’ve been going to games for over 50 years,” said Ray Booth, a Man City fan. “We don’t think about these things, but it could easily happen. You have a panic with thousands of people together. It could happen. It’s scary to think about.”
Both Manchester clubs said they were “deeply saddened” by the tragedy in Indonesia.
“We offer our sincere condolences to the victims, their families and everyone affected,” Man United said.
In Spain, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez called for a minute’s silence during the club’s general assembly.
Barcelona said it was “pained by the tragic events” and rejected “all acts of violence on and off the pitch”. Ajax said: “There should never be violence at a football match.”
Among the players who reacted was veteran PSG defender Sergio Ramos, who described the tragedy as “heartbreaking”.
“Our thoughts are with the victims and their families,” he said on Twitter.
Football leagues also expressed their sorrow, including the Premier League, Italian League and Spanish League.
In a statement, FIFA President Gianni Infantino offered his condolences on behalf of the global football community, saying: “The football world is in shock.”
In its statement, FIFA made no mention of the U20 World Cup that Indonesia is set to host next year.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin spoke on behalf of European football.
“I would like to express our deep shock and sadness at the appalling events last night at Kanjuruhan Stadium in East Java,” he said. “Our community sends its condolences and solidarity to all those affected by this tragedy.”
Asian Football Confederation President Shaikh Salman said he was “deeply shocked and saddened to hear such tragic news from football-mad Indonesia”.
The Spanish Football Federation lamented the tragedy and said it “condemns any act of violence, particularly in a celebratory setting such as a football match.
——
AP sportswriter James Robson, from Manchester, England, contributed to this report.