The Kanjuruhan Tragedy: Football That Claims Lives

Background of the Match

The match that night featured two major Indonesian clubs, Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya, who have a long-standing rivalry. This match was one of the most anticipated by Indonesian football fans, especially in East Java. For a long time, the rivalry between the two teams had sparked high tension among their supporters, although for this match, only Arema supporters were allowed into the stadium as a preventive measure against riots.

Arema FC lost 2-3 to Persebaya, a defeat that caused great disappointment among Arema supporters, known as Aremania. This result was very emotional because Arema had not lost to Persebaya at home for more than two decades.

Chronology of the Tragedy

After the final whistle, some Arema supporters began to enter the field to express their disappointment over their beloved team's defeat. Security officers tried to prevent the supporters from entering the field, but the increasing number of supporters made the situation more difficult to control. The security measures turned more repressive. Officers fired tear gas towards the stands to disperse the crowd.

The tear gas fired towards the stands caused great panic among the spectators, including children and women. Many supporters ran towards the exits, which unfortunately were mostly closed or inadequate to accommodate thousands of people at once. The panic at the exits caused many people to be trapped, crushed, and suffocated. As a result, hundreds of supporters experienced shortness of breath, were trampled, and trapped without being able to escape.

Casualties and Injuries

This tragedy claimed a very large number of lives. More than 130 people were reported dead, and hundreds more were injured, ranging from minor to severe injuries. Most of the victims died from suffocation, asphyxiation, and being trampled in their attempt to find a way out. The deceased included children, teenagers, and even some family members who were watching the match together.

Impact of the Kanjuruhan Tragedy

This tragedy left a profound impact on Indonesian football and the global football community. Domestically, the public mourned and condemned the excessive security measures, particularly the use of tear gas. FIFA, the international football organization, also highlighted this incident, noting that the use of tear gas in stadiums is prohibited under FIFA safety regulations to avoid the risk of panic and suffocation among spectators.

The Kanjuruhan tragedy also sparked major criticism of the security management in Indonesian stadiums. Many questioned the readiness and preparedness of stadium management in anticipating emergency situations, such as inadequate exits and lack of quick evacuation measures. This highlighted the need for serious improvements in safety standards in Indonesian stadiums.

Actions and Responses After the Tragedy

Following the tragedy, the Indonesian government immediately took steps to investigate the causes of the incident and hold those responsible accountable. Investigations were conducted on the police, stadium management, and the Indonesian football league authorities (PT Liga Indonesia Baru) to determine the causes and those responsible for the negligence that occurred.

The Indonesian government, together with FIFA, sought to make major improvements to stadium infrastructure and football match safety standards in Indonesia. Several stadiums were upgraded to meet international standards in terms of evacuation routes, exits, stand capacity, and security layout to prevent similar panic in the future.

As a form of respect, various football clubs in Indonesia and around the world held moments of silence for the victims of this tragedy. The Indonesian football league was also temporarily suspended in response to this tragedy, and safety regulations in match organization were tightened.

Lessons from the Kanjuruhan Tragedy

The Kanjuruhan tragedy serves as an important reminder of the need for high safety standards in football matches. Football fans are an integral part of the sport, and their safety must be the top priority in every match. This tragedy shows that preventive measures, crowd management, and discipline in following safety standards are crucial to preventing similar tragedies in the future.

For the families of the victims, this tragedy brings wounds that are difficult to heal. The Indonesian football world will always remember this tragedy as a dark event that forced all parties to improve for the sake of collective safety. Hopefully, with the corrective measures taken, Indonesian football can rise and create a safer and more welcoming stadium experience for all fans.