At least 129 people have died after police fired tear gas to disperse rioting fans in Indonesia’s East Java province.

Most of the victims died from a lack of oxygen during a stampede after fans invaded the pitch in the Kanjuruhan stadium on Saturday night as hosts Arema Malang lost 3-2 to rival East Java club Persebaya Surabaya.

“We regret and deplore the tragedy,” provincial police chief Nico Afinta told a news conference on Sunday.

Given the fierce rivalry between the two sets of supporters, police “had suggested that the match be attended by Arema fans only”, he said.

Afinta said two police officers were among the dead.

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Malang health chief Widjanto Widjoyo put the death toll at 129, based on information collected from hospitals in the city.

“We will create a call centre to provide information for families looking for their loved ones,” he said.

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All remaining competition fixtures have been suspended for a week, while the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) said Arema would not host games for the rest of the season.

A team had been formed to investigate the incident, PSSI said.

“We regret the action of Arema supporters at Kanjuruhan Stadium,” PSSI chief Mochamad Iriawan said.

“We offer condolences and apologise to the victims’ families and all parties for the incident.”

World soccer’s governing body FIFA specifies in its safety regulations that no firearms or “crowd control gas” should be carried or used by stewards or police.

East Java police did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether they were aware of such regulations.

Indonesia’s human rights commission planned to investigate security at the ground, including the use of tear gas, its commissioner told Reuters.

The country’s chief security minister, Mahfud MD, said in an Instagram post the stadium had been filled beyond its capacity.

He alleged 42,000 tickets had been issued for a stadium that is only supposed to hold 38,000 people.

There have been sporadic outbreaks of trouble at matches in Indonesia, with strong rivalries between clubs sometimes leading to violence among supporters.

Zainudin Amali, Indonesia’s sports minister, told KompasTV the ministry would re-evaluate safety at matches, including considering not allowing spectators in stadiums.

The Indonesian top league, BRI Liga 1, has suspended games for a week and an investigation had been launched, the Football Association of Indonesia said.

Indonesia is scheduled to host the FIFA under-20 World Cup in May and June next year.

It is also one of three countries bidding to stage next year’s Asian Cup, after China pulled out as hosts.

-with AAP