Sheikh Rashid sends condolences to families of victims of Indonesia football tragedy

Saturday night's tragedy, which resulted after police fired tear gas, claimed at least 125 lives

Arema football club supporters light candles as they pray for the victims in Malang, Indonesia. Getty Images

Police officers move a damaged vehicle out of the Kanjuruhan stadium. Reuters

A police officer inspects a police car wrecked in football riots. AP Photo

Women weep after receiving confirmation that their family member is among those killed in the riots, at a hospital in Malang, East Java. AP Photo

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. Reuters

Indonesian army and police attempt to secure the pitch after a football match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya at Kanjuruhan stadium in Malang, East Java. At least 129 people died at the stadium when fans invaded the pitch and police responded with tear gas, triggering a stampede, officials said. AFP

The Indonesian army on the pitch after a football match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya at Kanjuruhan stadium in Malang, East Java. AFP

Police officers arrest a fan on the pitch during a clash between fans at Kanjuruhan Stadium. EPA

Police officers run as they try to stop fans from entering the pitch during a clash between fans at Kanjuruhan Stadium. EPA

Security personnel on the pitch at Kanjuruhan Stadium as chaos ensues in the stands. AFP

A group of people carry a man at Kanjuruhan Stadium during a stampede which killed 129 people. AFP

Football fans enter the pitch during a clash between supporters at Kanjuruhan Stadium. Clashes between supporters of the two teams killed 129 fans and a number of police officers, mostly trampled to death, police said Sunday. AP

Kanjuruhan Stadium after the stampede and riots which killed 129 people, according to local police. EPA

Damaged police vehicles lay on the pitch inside Kanjuruhan Stadium. EPA

Motorists ride past the wreckage of a car burned outside Kanjuruhan Stadium. AP

People walk past a torched police truck outside Kanjuruhan Stadium. EPA

A woman walks past a damaged police vehicle inside Kanjuruhan Stadium. EPA

Plain-clothed police officers stand near the wreckage of police vehicles damaged inside Kanjuruhan Stadium. AP

Police officers and soldiers stand amid tear gas smoke after the match at Kanjuruhan Stadium. AP

A torched car outside Kanjuruhan Stadium. AFP

Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, president of the Football Association, has sent his condolences to the families of the victims of the Indonesia football tragedy, and the entire Indonesian football community.

At least 125 people, including 32 children, were killed and many more injured on Saturday night in the eastern city of Malang in a stampede after thousands of fans invaded the pitch following the match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya.

Authorities said police fired tear gas that caused a surge of panicked fans to run for exits from the stadium. It resulted in scores of deaths by trampling and suffocation. It represents one of the deadliest disasters at a sporting event.

In a statement released on Monday, Sheikh Rashid said he expressed “deep sadness” in the lost lives, while he also sent his condolences to Mochamad Iriawan, president of the Indonesian Football Association.

Sheikh Rashid said that, together on behalf of the FA, he offered his “sincere condolences to the families of the victims, and the Indonesian football community, wishing a speedy recovery for the injured”. Sheikh Rashid stressed that the FA would “stand by the football family in Indonesia in these hard times”.

Witnesses on Saturday night said officers beat them with sticks and shields before shooting tear gas canisters directly into the crowds.

Arema FC apologised on Monday, with club president Gilang Widya Pramana saying he would take full responsibility for the events. Chief security minister Mahfud MD told a news conference on Monday that the country would set up an independent team to investigate the incident and decipher who was responsible, as Indonesian police said they were investigating 18 officers for firing the tear gas that prompted the crush.

National Police spokesman Dedy Prasetyo said officers from mid-ranking and high-ranking positions were being investigated, alongside “internal matters related to security management”.

It was reported on Monday that Indonesian president Joko Widodo had ordered compensation for the families of the 125 victims.