10 of the World's Deadliest Football Matches

National Police Chief General Pol Listyo Sigit Prabowo stated that the death toll from the football match riot at Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang Regency, East Java, is 125 people.

Previously, the death toll in the football match tragedy between Persebaya Surabaya and Arema FC Malang varied, with some reports stating 127 to 170 deaths. However, after verification, the number is 125.

The match between Arema FC and Persebaya was highly prestigious for the fanatical supporters of each team. Persebaya's 3-2 victory over Arema FC ignited the dissatisfaction of Arema supporters, who entered the field chasing players and officials, resulting in a riot that caused numerous deaths.

According to data from Football-Stadiums.co.uk, with 125 deaths, the Kanjuruhan Stadium tragedy ranks third among the deadliest football matches in the world.

First is the tragedy at Estadio Nacional, Lima, Peru, which claimed 328 lives in 1964. Second is the Accra Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana, with 126 deaths in 2021.

Football is one of the most popular sports in the world. More than 3.5 billion people worldwide are estimated to enjoy football matches.