At least 127 people have been reported dead after riots following a soccer game in Indonesia, police say
At least 127 people are dead and hundreds more injured, police say, after chaos and violence erupted late on Saturday following an Indonesian league soccer match between two of the nation’s biggest teams. Supporters of Arema FC and rival Persebaya Surabaya clashed after home team Arema FC was defeated 3-2 at a match in the city of Malang in East Java. “First of all, a riot happened,” East Java police chief Nico Afinta said during a press conference following the event.
There have been previous outbreaks of trouble at matches in Indonesia, with a strong rivalry between clubs sometimes leading to violence among supporters. ‘Tarnishing the name of Indonesian football’ The Indonesian Football Association has suspended matches next week as a result of the deadly tragedy, and banned Arema FC from hosting games for the rest of the season.