The drama at the Indonesian soccer stadium, where 130 people died earlier this month, was caused by police tear gas. This is stated in the conclusions of the official investigation into the disaster. The actions of the police were “exaggerated”, according to the investigators.

After the game in Malang, which home club Arema FC lost 3-2, angry fans stormed the field. The police then used tear gas. Earlier, the in-house chief of the Indonesian police reported that the police should never have used tear gas.

Footage from surveillance cameras around the stadium shows people being crushed after officers fired the tear gas. People were crushed to death trying to make friends or helping others, Security Minister Mohammad Mahfud said at the launch of the investigation.

“Tear Gas in Random Directions”

The international football association FIFA bans the use of tear gas in stadiums, but agents at the stadium were not aware of it, Mahfud said. The officers also fired the tear gas canisters in random directions.

The directors of the Indonesian Football Association and the football club Arema FC also have to take responsibility, the researchers say. For security reasons, only supporters of the home club were welcome to the game between arch-rivals Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya. Still, safety warnings were ignored, the report said. In addition, more tickets were sold than allowed.

An investigation into the chemical composition of the tear gas is currently underway. According to Minister Mahfud, the result will not change the fact that tear gas was the cause of the stadium drama.