Indonesia Investigates Tear Gas Firing at Soccer Game

Indonesia Investigates Tear Gas Firing at Soccer Game

Indonesian officials have removed police officers and investigated others responsible for firing tear gas that set off a crush, killing¹ at least 125 people at a soccer game. The victims included 17 children.

The game took place in the Southeast Asian country's Malang city. It was attended only by hometown Arema FC fans. The organizer had banned supporters of the visiting team Persebaya Surabaya because of Indonesia's history of violent soccer rivalries².

Witnesses said fans ran onto the field after Arema lost the game 3-2. They were angry that the team had its first loss at home against Persebaya after 23 years. Some of the 42,000 Arema fans threw bottles and other objects at players and soccer officials. At least five police vehicles were turned over and set on fire outside the stadium.

But most of the deaths happened when riot police, trying to stop the violence, fired tear gas, including toward the seats inside the stadium. That set off the disastrous³ crush of fans trying to flee. Most of the 125 people who died were trampled⁵ upon or died because they could not breathe. Two police officers were among the dead. Overall, 323 people were injured in the crush, some of them still in serious condition.

A National Police spokesman said the Malang police chief had been removed along with nine officers. He said 18 officers responsible for firing tear gas were being investigated.

Police are still questioning witnesses and looking at videos from 32 security cameras inside and outside the stadium. They are also looking at mobile phones owned by the victims to identify suspected vandals.

On Monday, Arema players and officials laid flowers for the victims in front of the stadium. Head coach Javier Roca said, "We came here as a team asking forgiveness from the families impacted by this tragedy, those who lost their loves ones or the ones still being treated in the hospital." And the team president said he is ready to take full responsibility for the tragedy.

Indonesia's President Joko Widodo ordered the soccer organization suspended until safety is looked at and security is increased. Indonesia's soccer group has also banned Arema from holding games at its stadium for the rest of the season.

Rights group Amnesty International is pushing Indonesia to investigate the use of tear gas and ensure that those found responsible are tried in open court. The international soccer group FIFA has advised against the use of tear gas at soccer stadiums.

Saturday's game was among the world's worst crowd disasters at sporting events. In 1996, over 80 died and more than 100 were injured at a World Cup qualifier between Guatemala and Costa Rica in Guatemala City. More than 40 people were crushed to death during a soccer match at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, South Africa in April 2001.

In February 2012, 74 people were killed and more than 500 injured after a match between rivals al-Masry and al-Ahly when thousands of al-Masry fans invaded the field and attacked visiting supporters. The Egyptian soccer organization was suspended for two years as a result.

Words in This Story

rivalry⁶ – n. a state or situation in which people or groups are competing with each other

stadium --– n. a very large usually roofless building that has a large open area surrounded by many rows of seats and that is used for sports events or concerts.

trample⁴ – v. to cause damage or pain by walking or stepping heavily on something or someone

vandal – n. a person who deliberately⁷ destroys or damages property

coach – n. a person who teaches and trains an athlete or performer

impact – v. to have a strong and often bad effect on (something or someone)

1 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

2 rivalries   

n.敌对，竞争，对抗( rivalry的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The new government was torn by rivalries. 新政府由于各派对立而四分五裂。 来自辞典例句
• Rivalries could bring about pain and hatred or give rise to fighting. 竞争会带来痛苦、仇恨，或者引起争斗。 来自互联网

3 disastrous   

adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的

参考例句：

• The heavy rainstorm caused a disastrous flood.暴雨成灾。
• Her investment had disastrous consequences.She lost everything she owned.她的投资结果很惨，血本无归。

4 trample   

vt.踩，践踏；无视，伤害，侵犯

参考例句：

• Don't trample on the grass. 勿踏草地。
• Don't trample on the flowers when you play in the garden. 在花园里玩耍时,不要踩坏花。

5 trampled   

踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯

参考例句：

• He gripped his brother's arm lest he be trampled by the mob. 他紧抓着他兄弟的胳膊，怕他让暴民踩着。
• People were trampled underfoot in the rush for the exit. 有人在拼命涌向出口时被踩在脚下。

6 rivalry   

n.竞争，竞赛，对抗

参考例句：

• The quarrel originated in rivalry between the two families.这次争吵是两家不和引起的。
• He had a lot of rivalry with his brothers and sisters.他和兄弟姐妹间经常较劲。

7 deliberately   

adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地

参考例句：

• The girl gave the show away deliberately.女孩故意泄露秘密。
• They deliberately shifted off the argument.他们故意回避这个论点。