It was indeed a national disaster and dark day for the Indonesian government as about 400 soccer fans feared dead in a stadium stampede after the home team , Arema FC’s loss to bitter rivals.
The unfortunate incident which occurred at the overcrowded stadium late on Saturday in Malang, East Java saw now fewer 180 fans dead and another 180 critically injured .
The crush took place after police tear-gassed fans who invaded the pitch.
As panic spread, thousands surged towards Kanjuruhan stadium’s exits, where many suffocated.
Fifa, the world’s governing football body, states that no “crowd control gas” should be carried or used by stewards or police at matches.
One eyewitness told the BBC that police had fired numerous tear gas rounds “continuously and fast” after the situation with fans became “tense”.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said it was “a dark day for all involved in football and a tragedy beyond comprehension”.
About 180 were also hurt in aftermath of home team Arema FC’s loss to bitter rivals at the overcrowded stadium late on Saturday in Malang, East Java.