Chile’s soccer coach Javier Roca said on Sunday that “the fans died in the arms of the players” and claimed that police firing tear gas hit the scene of the Indonesian soccer tragedy with “more steps” than At least 125 lives were lost.
The disaster came after Arima FC fans stormed the Kanjurohan Stadium pitch after their team lost 3-2 to bitter rivals Persiba Surabaya.
Police said 323 people were also injured in what was one of the world’s deadliest sports stadium disasters.
“The scariest thing was when the victims came to be treated by the team doctor. About 20 people arrived and four died. The fans died in the arms of the players,” Arima’s coach Roca told Spanish broadcaster Cadena Ser.
“I’m mentally broken. I feel a heavy burden, even a heavy responsibility.”
Police, who described the unrest as “mayhem”, said they tried to force thousands of fans back from the pitch to the stands and fired tear gas after two officials were killed.
According to police, many of the victims were trampled or strangled to death.
The stadium holds 42,000 people and officials say it was a sellout. Police said 3,000 people stormed the pitch.
Roca, 45, who has spent a large part of his career in Indonesia, described how the full extent of the tragedy came to light shortly after Saturday night’s game.
“After the match, I went to the dressing room, and some players stayed on the pitch. Coming back from the press conference, I saw this tragedy.
“Boys pass by with victims in their arms. The results dictate and determine what happens in the end. If we were drawing, it wouldn’t have happened.
Rocca accused the police of overreacting and said the stadium was badly unprepared.
“It turned out that the stadium was not ready, they didn’t expect such chaos. Nothing like this had ever happened in the stadium, and it collapsed due to the number of people who wanted to escape,” Rocca added.
“I think the police overstepped their mark, even though I wasn’t out there and didn’t experience the fallout.
“But looking at the pictures, they could have used other techniques. No match result, no matter how important, is worth losing a life.”
