{O/C} {Good evening}
A suspenseful soccer match in Indonesia came to a bloody and riotous end last night when a stampede broke out in anarchy.
At least 125 people have been killed and more than 300 injured.
{The following descriptions may be distressing.}
{Take SOT}
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It was 10 p.m. Saturday night when thousands of Arema FC supporters thronged the Malang Stadium pitch after the East Java team lost to Persebaya Surabaya, 3-2.
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To vent their discontent, fans hurled bottles and other objects at players and soccer officials, and scuffles ensued.
All this boils down to Arema's 23 years of undefeated home games.
But it was when riot police resorted to tear gas that the crowd flocked to the exit to flee, only to be smothered.
At least thirty-four were crushed in the ensuing stampede, including two police officers, with reports of deceased children.
Indonesia's Police has come under fire for its use of tear gas, barred by FIFA at soccer stadiums.
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But the East Java Police chief asserted police had to disperse "rioters" who assailed officers.
Pandemonium unfolded even outside the stadium where at least five police vehicles were toppled and left smouldering.
Distraught relatives wailed in anguish as unconscious fans were carried away.
Many of the 300 injured succumbed to their wounds on their way to nearby hospitals nearby hospitals.
At least 125 have been killed so far with more than 100 of the injured receiving intensive medical care and 11 in critical condition.
The soccer match was reportedly over-booked, which may have exacerbated the unrest.
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President Joko Widodo expressed deep sorrow, hoping this is the last soccer tragedy in his country.
While the government has apologised for the incident, the Youth and Sports Minister has also promised a rigorous probe into the tragedy.
The incident has inevitably put a black eye on Indonesia's scheduled hosting of next year's FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Financial aid will be offered to the wounded and relatives of victims.
Fierce rivalries between sports clubs have previously led to confrontations at matches in Indonesia before.
Fanaticism is also rampant in the soccer-obsessed nation and often leads to violence.
But today's stampede appears the deadliest, right ahead of the 1996 World Cup qualifier where 80 died and more than 100 were injured.
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