FIFA, the head of soccer’s international governing body, has led football’s mourning of Saturday’s stampede at an Indonesian league football match, describing the incident, which killed at least 125 people, as a “dark day” and a “tragedy beyond comprehension.”
In what is one of the world’s deadliest ever stadium disasters, more than 300 people remain injured, according to Indonesian authorities, with fears that the death toll could still rise.
“I extend my deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims who lost their lives following this tragic incident,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement.
“Together with FIFA and the global football community, all our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, those who have been injured, together with the people of the Republic of Indonesia, the Asian Football Confederation, the Indonesian Football Association, and the Indonesian Football League, at this difficult time,” he said.
Supporters of Arema FC and rival Persebaya Surbaya, two of Indonesia’s biggest soccer teams, clashed in the stands after home team Arema FC was defeated 3-2 at a match in the city of Malang in East Java, police said.
Supporters from the losing team then “invaded” the pitch and police fired tear gas, triggering a stampede that led to cases of suffocation, East Java police chief Nico Afinta said during a press conference following the event.
Two police officers were also among the dead, the police chief said, adding that the crush occurred when fans fled for an exit gate.
Football clubs around the world are paying tribute to those killed.
Spain’s La Liga announced in a statement that a minute’s silence will be held at the five matches scheduled for Sunday and Monday, as well as the 10 matches the following week, while many English Premier League clubs tweeted their own tributes to the victims of the disaster.
Liverpool FC, which suffered a tragedy in 1989 when 96 of its supporters died at the Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, was among them.
“We are deeply saddened to hear of the events at Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang, Indonesia. The thoughts of everyone at Liverpool Football Club are with all those affected at this time,” Liverpool tweeted.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the events in Malang at the Kanjuruhan Stadium Indonesia today. Along with everyone who finds a connection through football, our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy,” English club Arsenal tweeted.
Meanwhile, Gilang Widya Pramana, the President of the host team Arema FC apologized in a statement on the club website.
“As the President of Arema FC, I apologize to all residents of Malang who were affected by this incident, I am very concerned and strongly condemn the riots at the Kanjuruhan stadium which resulted in more than one hundred deaths,” he said.
“I feel deep sorrow and condolences for the Aremania who were victims of the Kanjuruhan disaster, I hope the bereaved families will be given courage,” he added.