Indonesia football stampede dark day for football: FIFA President
FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Sunday said that the riot and ensuing stampede at a football match in Indonesia that killed 174 people is a "dark day" for the sport. The violence broke out at a stadium in East Java during a game between Arema and Persebaya Surabaya. At least 174 people died in the stampede, Deputy East Java Governor Emil Dardak told local media on Sunday afternoon. Other official or government-backed sources put the number between 129 and 182. The resulting stampede led to cases of suffocation. After the match in East Java province between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya ended on Saturday night, supporters from the losing team invaded the pitch to express their frustration, police said. FIFA issued an official statement in which President Gianni Infantino said that the football world is in a state of shock following the tragic incidents. "The football world is in a state of shock following the tragic incidents that have taken place in Indonesia at the end of the match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya at the Kanjuruhan Stadium," FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in an official statement released by FIFA. "This is a dark day for all involved in football and a tragedy beyond comprehension. I extend my deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims who lost their lives following this tragic incident," he added. "Together with FIFA and the global football community, all our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, those who have been injured, together with the people of the Republic of Indonesia, the Asian Football Confederation, the Indonesian Football Association, and the Indonesian Football League, at this difficult time," Gianni said. Many of the top football clubs around the world, including Barcelona, Manchester City, Manchester United, and PSG among others expressed condolences to the families affected by the horrific incident. (ANI)
129 dead in mass riots during football match in Indonesia
At least 127 people died after riots broke out in a football match in Indonesia on Saturday night. Children and police officers are among the dead. The soccer match took place inside the Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang, a landlocked city in the Indonesian province of East Java. The defeat of Arema Football club by their arch-rivals Persebaya on their home ground prompted a large number of their supporters to storm the pitch following which mass riots broke out, killing more than 100 football fans and two police officers on the scene. Numerous footage that circulated on social media showed fans climbing over fences as they tried to escape from the smoke clouds after tear gas was released at the incident site in order to disperse the masses. Notably, after the chaos ended on the soccer ground, the stampede continued on the streets. (ANI)
World Cup 2022: Denmark to wear 'toned down' jerseys in protest at hosts Qatar
Denmark will wear "toned down" shirts for the World Cup to protest against host Qatar's human rights record and its treatment of migrant workers, BBC reported.
Kit provider Hummel has also designed a third, all-black kit, to represent the "colour of mourning".
Hummel said it "does not wish to be visible" in a tournament it claims "has cost thousands of lives".
"We support the Danish national team but that isn't the same as supporting Qatar as a host nation," it said.
As part of the design, the Denmark badge is also "toned down". Their playing kit will be a plain red home shirt and an all-white second kit.
Denmark's training kit sponsors will also withdraw their logos to give room for messages critical of Qatar.
Qatar officials have previously disputed the figures on the death of migrant workers working on World Cup facilities, saying the actual total figure at the time in 2021 was 37.
Hummel said: "We wish to make a statement about Qatar's human rights record and its treatment of the migrant workers that have built the country's World Cup stadiums, according to BBC.
"We believe that sport should bring people together. And when it doesn't, we want to make a statement."
However, the Qatar 2022 supreme committee, which organises the tournament, disputed Hummel's claims about the deaths of migrant workers.
"We have engaged in robust and transparent dialogue with the Danish Football Association (DBU)," a statement said.
"We wholeheartedly reject the trivialising of our genuine commitment to protect the health and safety of the 30,000 workers who built stadiums and other tournament projects.
"We have worked diligently alongside the Qatari government to ensure that the tournament delivers a lasting social legacy."
The committee also urged the DBU to "accurately convey the outcome of their extensive communication and work with the [committee]" to Hummel, BBC reported.
England in Pakistan: Hosts edge low-scoring match to take 3-2 lead in Twenty20 series
Pakistan took a 3-2 lead in their Twenty20 series against England with a six-run victory in a low-scoring match in Lahore, BBC reported.
Chasing just 146 for the win, England never recovered from a poor start in the powerplay that saw them reduced to 31-3 inside five overs.
A defiant knock from captain Moeen Ali, who ended unbeaten on 51, left England needing 15 runs off the last over, but some superb death bowling from debutant Aamir Jamal saw them fall just short on 139-7.
Earlier, England fast bowler Mark Wood took 3-20 as Pakistan were bowled out for 145 after 19 overs, Mohammad Rizwan the only batter to offer resistance with 63 from 46 deliveries, according to BBC.
The penultimate game of the seven-match series takes place on Friday, again in Lahore.
