Sevilla goalkeeer Mark Dmitrovic.Photo: Peter Dejong/AP/Shutterstock
A Europa League soccer match was interrupted when a fan ran onto the pitch and punched a goalkeeper in the face.
PerESPN, Dmitrovic, 31 carried on playing, apparently unhurt.
“I never saw anything like it,” the Serbian goalkeeper said when asked about the incident after the match according toESPN. “I’m not going to say what I really wanted to do [to the pitch invader]. I’m glad I was aware of where he was coming from and was able to stop him, otherwise other things could have happened. He wanted to hit me, it’s unfortunate that this kind of incident happened on a soccer pitch. UEFA should do something, this has to stop.”
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Dmitrovic was a late inclusion in Sevilla’s starting lineup after Yassine Bounou felt ill, according toAP.
Sevilla’s boss Jorge Sampaoli said after the game, “It’s a disgrace that the game resumed. These acts have to be strongly punished. Otherwise it will happen again and we will not know when it is time to stop when faced with these types of situations.”
He added: “I truly don’t understand how the referee did not take another decision. If you accept this, from now on, anything could happen.”
Marko Dmitrovic and the fan.Hollandse Hoogte/Shutterstock
According to the BBC, Sampaoli also called the incident “incredibly sad.”
“I find it worrying,” he added. “This type of thing needs to stop.”
PSV Eindhoven won the second-leg match2-0, but the side were eliminated3-2 on aggregate.
source: people.com
