Indonesia police say 127 people killed after stampede at football match

JAKARTA: Indonesia's police chief in East Java province said on Sunday that 127 people had died and 180 were injured after a crowd stampede during crowd trouble at a football match.

Supporters from the losing side had invaded the pitch and authorities had fired tear gas, leading to a crowd stampede and cases of suffocation, Nico Afinta told reporters. 

The Indonesian top league BRI Liga 1 has suspended games for a week following a riot after the match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya at the Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang Regency on Saturday.

According to the league's announcement, there were casualties and significant damage around the stadium.

The Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) said it would start an investigation into what happened after the game. Neither PSSI nor the BRI Liga 1 could confirm the number of casualties.

"We announced the decision after we received a direction from the Chairman of PSSI. We are doing this to respect everything and while waiting for the investigation process from PSSI," President Director of league owner PT LIB, Akhmad Hadian Lukita said.

Persebaya won the game 3-2.