'Two killed' in SEA Games football final stampede

Two Indonesian football fans died in a stampede in Jakarta on Monday at the Southeast Asian Games final against Malaysia, according to a victim's brother and a report citing a paramedic. "When we found the victims, they were already dead," paramedic Abdul Majid told the Detik.com news portal outside the stadium. Local media reported that several other spectators had been taken to hospital, including a nine-year-old boy who had fallen into a coma. The two fans wearing Indonesian red-and-white team T-shirts were reportedly taken to hospital at 8:30 pm, around 90 minutes after the stampede broke out, as thousands streamed into the game. "As we were entering the stadium, the crowd of people pushed each other to make their way forward," Helmi, the brother of one of the victims, told AFP. "My brother was pushed away from me and we were separated. I then heard that some people had fallen and that people had died. I rushed to check and found my brother dead." The identity of the second victim was unknown. Deadly stampedes at major sporting, music and religious events are common in Indonesia. Violence at football games is also common, with disgruntled fans often throwing dangerous items onto the field after matches. Earlier Monday, two men were arrested for burning down a ticket booth at the stadium upon learning the match had sold out, media reported.