Jakarta, Indonesia –
Violence and a deadly stampede that broke out after a domestic league soccer game on Saturday night marked another tragedy in Indonesian soccer. Here’s a look at how the chaos came about and what’s being done to prevent future incidents.
HOW DID THE CHAOS CREATE?
Chaos erupted after Persebaya Surabaya defeated rivals Arema Malang 3-2 in Saturday night’s game in the city of Malang in East Java province. Police said there were about 42,000 spectators in the stadium, all of whom were Arema supporters, because the organizer blocked Persebaya fans to avoid brawls.
But a disappointing Arema defeat – the first game lost to rivals Persebaya at their home stadium – prompted angry spectators to flock to the field after the game to demand answers. Fans threw bottles and other objects at players and football officials, and riots spread outside the stadium, with at least five police cars being overturned and set on fire and others damaged. Riot police responded with tear gas, which FIFA has banned in football stadiums. But it caused panic.
Hundreds of spectators rushed to an exit gate to avoid the tear gas, leading to a stampede that almost instantly trampled or choked 34 to death, followed by many more deaths from injuries.
HOW MANY PEOPLE DIED?
At least 174 people died in one of the worst sporting disasters, police said, including children and two police officers, most of whom were trampled on.
More than 100 people were injured. Police said the death toll is likely to continue rising as several people are in critical condition.
Data from Save Our Soccer, an Indonesian soccer monitoring organization, says that since 1995, at least 86 Indonesian soccer fans have died in connection with supporting their club during the game. Most of them died from the fights between the fans.
Saturday’s riots and crowds add to the long list of events that have seen fans die in support of their football club.
WHY DOES SOCCER BRING VIOLENCE?
Soccer is the most popular sport in Indonesia and the domestic league is widespread. Supporters are deeply attached to their clubs and such fanaticism often ends in violence and hooliganism. But the riots between the fans mostly take place outside the stadium.
The most famous feud is that between Persija Jakarta and Persib Bandung. Supporters of the two clubs have clashed in several matches resulting in fatalities. In 2018, a Persija Jakarta supporter was beaten to death by Persib Bandung rivals.
Indonesian football is also struggling at international level. Brawls erupted between supporters of arch-rivals Indonesia and Malaysia during qualifiers for that year’s FIFA World Cup in 2019. In September of the same year, Malaysian fans were threatened and thrown at projectiles at a World Cup qualifier in Jakarta, and Malaysia’s visiting sports minister had to be evacuated from the stadium after violence broke out. Two months later, in another game in Kuala Lumpur, fans threw flares and bottles at each other.
Also in 2019, after losing to Vietnam in the final of the U-22 match at the Southeast Asia Games, Indonesian fans took to social media to insult, harass and send death threats to Vietnamese players and even their families.
In June, two Persib Bandung fans died while jostling to enter the Bandung stadium to watch the 2022 President’s Cup. The angry fans turned aggressive as the officials on the pitch refused them entry to the already full stadium.
WHAT DOES THE GOVERNMENT DO ABOUT THIS?
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has expressed his deepest regrets and ordered a thorough investigation into the case. He has also ordered the first division of football to be suspended pending a re-evaluation of game safety and tighter security measures. Widodo said he hopes “this tragedy will be the last tragedy of football in Indonesia”.
The Indonesian Football Federation has also banned Arema from hosting football matches for the remainder of the season. Human rights group Amnesty International called on Indonesia to investigate the use of tear gas in the stadium and ensure those found in violations are brought to justice.