At least 129 dead after riot at Indonesia football match

football stadium in Indonesia when thousands of fans invaded the pitch and police fired tear gas that triggered a stampede, authorities said Sunday. The tragedy on Saturday night, in the eastern city of Malangm was one of the world's deadliest sporting stadium disasters. Arema FC supporters at the Kanjuruhan stadium stormed the pitch late on Saturday after their team lost 3-2 to the visiting team and bitter rivals, Persebaya Surabaya. Police, who described the unrest as "riots", said they tried to persuade fans to return to the stands and fired tear gas after two officers were killed.

Many of the victims were trampled or choked to death, according to police. East Java police chief Nico Afinta said many people were crushed and suffocated when they ran to one exit. He initially said a total of 127 people had died, but the toll was later raised to 129. A hospital director told local TV that one of the victims was five years old. Images captured from inside the stadium during the stampede showed huge amounts of tear gas and people clambering over fences. People were carrying injured spectators through the chaos.

1/9In pics: Over 100 people killed after stampede at soccer matchShow Captions<p>At least 129 people were killed and around 180 injured at a soccer match in Indonesia after a crowd stampede during a riot, police said, in what appears to be one of the world's worst stadium disasters. (AP Photo)</p><p>A damaged car is pictured following a riot after the league BRI Liga 1 football match between Arema vs Persebaya at Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang, East Java province, Indonesia. (Reuters)</p><p>Soccer fans carry an injured man following clashes during a soccer match at Kanjuruhan Stadium. (AP Photo)</p><p>Police officers