Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Former Deputy and President of Al Wihdat football team Tareq Khouri held the Gendarmerie forces responsible for the riots and violence that erupted Friday evening following the match between Al Wihdat and Al Faisali at King Abdullah Stadium in Quwaismeh, southern Amman.

Khouri said in a statement to Ammon News that hundreds of injured fans were transferred to hospitals after Gendarmerie intervened "without any reason and in a violent way" while Al Wihdat fans were celebrating their win tonight.

Khouri stressed that Al Faisali fans were already outside the stadium, noting that violence was not between fans of the two teams.

Khouri accused Gendarmerie forces of committing "a group massacre that led to the injury of hundreds of people tonight."

"There are enemies of national unity, and ones who are meddling with it, but we will not allow them and we will act rationally since we are people of right," Khoury said, accusing Gendarmerie forces of attacking Al Wihdat Refugee camp and using tear gas to disperse crowds.

Meanwhile, Minister of State and Government Spokesperson Ayman Safadi stressed in a response to a question posed by BBC regarding Khouri's comments that "such parties are responsible for what they say. We are a state of law and institutions, and a probe will be launched into what took place. Law will take its course."

He stressed that the government has formed an investigation committee to probe the incident on Friday evening, and legal procedures will be taken against those who violated the law and triggered the regrettable events.

Safadi said that the investigation is still ongoing, but stressed that Gendarmerie forces did not attack the fans, but rather the collapse of the fence between the stands and the playing field injured many people as a result of the stampede.

Safadi noted that Gendarmerie Directorate reported that Al Faisali fans were escorted out of the stadium following the game, upon an agreement between the Jordanian Football Association and the Gendarmerie forces to prevent any clashes between fan of the two teams.

Gendarmerie forces then intervened to break out riots that erupted, and noted that 200 people were rushed to government-run hospitals, and that official records revealed that hospitals treated 70 patients, while only 8 people remain hospitalized.

He stressed that no deaths were reported.

Safadi added tat 35 members of the Gendarmerie forces were also admitted to the hospital for treatment, 13 were still being treated.

The Minister added that crowds moved from the stadium towards the hospitals and caused riots and violence, noting that the situation is being contained.

Safadi assured that the events are under control, calling on Al Wihdat football team and the Jordanian Football Association to contain the situation. "We regret what happened, but we will ensure implementation of the law."