Sunday 24 / November / 2024
Muscat: The tragedy during a football match in Indonesia that left at least 125 fans dead has left Oman shocked.
Football fans and officials expressed deep anguish and sorrow at the tragedy that occurred in Malang, East Java in Indonesia.
The tragedy occurred at an Indonesian football stadium when thousands of angry home fans invaded the pitch and police responded with tear gas that triggered a stampede, according to local police authorities on Sunday.
The tragedy on Saturday night in the eastern city of Malang and left over 180 injured, was one of the world’s biggest sporting stadium disasters.
Arema FC fans stormed the pitch after their team lost 2-3 to Persebaya Surabaya on Saturday night.
Leading the tributes to the Indonesian Football Association and the people, Hilal al Sinani, CEO of Oman Football Association, said: “I am shocked beyond words to hear about the loss of so many fans. My deepest condolences to the people of Indonesia and my counterparts at the Indonesia Football Association.”
Sinani said that “football is a game to enjoy and we want fans to come in large numbers and enjoy.”
“What has happened is a terrible tragedy and we need to know the reasons for this unfortunate incident that has taken the lives of hundreds. The game of football is to make people happy and not suffer. I pray that such incidents never happen,” he added.
Sinani said that OFA takes lot of safety measures while organising all leagues and “we are careful and alert all the time when we have large gathering of fans.”
“My heart goes out to the people of Indonesia,” said Hilal.
Terming it as “one of the deadliest sports events in the world,” Talib Hilal, Oman national beach soccer team coach, said: “We used to hear about such tragedies many decades ago. Safety measures have been raised but this stampede at an Indonesian stadium is a shocking incident.”
“It is very sad. What happened is not football. Fans rampaging on the pitch is not a good sight and the result is such an unfortunate tragedy. FIFA should take strong action and a proper investigation should be done to avoid such a repeat.
“Football is a game to enjoy where families and fans come in large numbers. Fans should enjoy and not get aggressive and violent based on a result. Win and defeat is part of the game. I hope we never see such a tragedy again.”
Yousuf Al Wahaibi, Seeb Club vice-president, said: “It is a very sad day for football. To hear so many lives gone during a match is shocking. My deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones.
“Football is a game and to win or lose is part of it. Fans should realise it. We have a large fan base but we always urge them to keep their emotions in check during a match.”
Qasim Al Balushi, a football fan, said: “It is shocking to find such a large number of fans die. FIFA and the national football association should find out the reasons for the cause. If fans are to be blamed then it is a lesson for fans across the world to behave and follow rules inside a stadium.”
The president of the world soccer body, FIFA, called the deaths at the stadium “a dark day for all involved in football and a tragedy beyond comprehension,” while President Joko Widodo ordered an investigation into security procedures.
Indonesia’s football association, known as PSSI, suspended the premier soccer league Liga 1 indefinitely in light of the tragedy and banned Arema from hosting football matches for the remainder of the season.
Here is a look at some of the major disasters in football stadiums over the last 20 years:
January 2022, Cameroon
At least 8 people died and 38 were injured in a stampede at the Yaounde Olembe
Stadium before Cameroon’s Africa Cup of Nations last-16 game against Comoros.
February 2012, Egypt
Fans rioted at the end of a match between Al Masry and Al Ahly in the city of Port Said. At least 73 people were killed and more than 1,000 injured.
March 2009, Ivory Coast
At least 19 people were killed during a stampede at Abidjan’s Felix Houphouet-Boigny stadium before a World Cup qualifier against Malawi.
May 2001, Ghana
At least 120 people were killed in a stampede at Accra’s main football stadium when police fired tear gas at rioting fans
April 2001, South Africa
At least 43 people were crushed to death when fans tried to force their way into Johannesburg’s huge Ellis Park Stadium midway through a South African league match.
