At least 127 killed after riot breaks out at football match

At least 127 people have been killed after a riot at a football match in Indonesia, a police official has said.

The violence broke out at a stadium in East Java during a game between Arema and Persebaya Surabaya.

Chaos broke out after the match ended 2-3 for the visitors – and according to local reports, thousands of Arema fans went on to the pitch after their team lost.

It is also claimed that several Arema players who were still on the field at the time were attacked.

Some 180 people are being treated in hospital – and it is believed a stampede began when the police fired tear gas into the crowd.

A local health official said many of the victims died of “chaos, overcrowding, trampling and suffocation”.

Two of those killed at the Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang province are reportedly police officers.

Indonesia’s football league has now been suspended for a week, with Arema banned from hosting matches for the rest of the season.

The chair of the country’s football association, Mochamad Iriawan, has apologised to families of the victims.

He added that the incident “really tarnishes the face of Indonesian football”.