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'Fans died in players' arms,' says coach at Malang football tragedy
The disaster happened when fans of Arema FC stormed the pitch at the Kanjuruhan stadium after their team lost 3-2 to bitter rivals, Persebaya Surabaya.
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Arema FC coach Javier Roca said he witnessed fans dying in the arms of players during a riot at the Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang, East Java on Oct. 1, 2022. (The Jakarta Post/Persik Kediri)
C
hilean football coach Javier Roca on Sunday said "fans died in the arms of players" and claimed tear gas-firing police fatally "over-stepped" the mark in the Indonesian football tragedy which claimed at least 125 lives.
The disaster happened when fans of Arema FC stormed the pitch at the Kanjuruhan stadium after their team lost 3-2 to bitter rivals, Persebaya Surabaya.
Police said 323 people were also injured in what is one of the world's deadliest sporting stadium disasters.
"The most terrible thing was when victims came to be treated by the team doctor. About 20 people arrived and four died. Fans died in the arms of players," Arema coach Roca told Spanish broadcaster Cadena Ser.
"I'm mentally shattered. I feel a heavy burden, even a heavy responsibility."
Police, who described the unrest as "riots", said they tried to force the thousands of fans to return to the stands from the pitch and fired tear gas after two officers were killed.
Many of the victims were trampled or choked to death, according to police.
