At least 174 people have died and another 180 injured in a stampede at an East Java, Indonesia, football stadium Saturday night.
East Java Police Chief Nico Afinta told reporters that two members of the police force are among the victims, most of whom were trampled to death.
Afinta said the Indonesia premier league game had ended with Persebaya beating Arema 3-2. He said Arema supporters – known as Aremania – were unhappy with the outcome and entered the field to chase the Arema players and team.
The police chief said, “Police officers tried to persuade the Aremania to return to the stands but were ignored. We do not know why the crowd became increasingly anarchic, and finally attacked the police too. Finally, police fired tear gas at the crowd.”
Hundreds of supporters of each team ran to exit gates to avoid the tear gas, but many were suffocated and trampled.
Hundreds of the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, but many of them died on the way or during treatment.
Clashes spread outside the stadium where at least five police vehicles were overturned and set on fire.
Tear gas is banned at football stadiums by the international governing body FIFA.
Some people were suffocated and others trampled as hundreds ran to the exit in a bid to escape the chemical.
Children were among the victims, according to some reports.
