His Majesty The King has sent a message of condolence following the deadly football disaster in Indonesia.
The King told the country’s leader, Joko Widodo, that he and his wife, Queen Consort Camilla, were “deeply saddened” to hear of the tragic event.
In a message posted on Twitter, The King, who signed the message Charles R, said: “My wife and I were deeply saddened to hear of the loss of life and injuries at the football match in Malang on 1 October.
“I offer my heartfelt condolences to you, the families affected and the people of the Republic of Indonesia at this difficult time.”
Indonesian officials said they will set up a commission to investigate what led to the deaths in the aftermath of a rival match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya.
The stadium in Malang, East Java, is said to have been over capacity during the event. The crush took place after police tear-gassed fans who rushed the field after the final score of 3-2. The tear gas led some to run into narrow exits to escape the situation. The Football Association of Indonesia said there was a delay in unlocking the exit gates after the violence began, and this delay contributed to the deadly event.
The global governing body of football, FIFA, said its safety regulations regarding no firearms or crowd control gas should be used by stewards and police.
The president of the sport, Gianni Infantino, said: “A state of shock following the tragic incidents that have taken place in Indonesia” and the event was a “dark day for all involved.”
At least 131 people were killed at the match, including more than 30 children.
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