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| One of the hoodlums being pursued by security officials at the friendly match between Senegal and Ivory Coast |
By: Bulus Bako
An international
friendly between African rivals Senegal and the Ivory Coast near Paris was
abandoned on Monday as fans invaded the pitch and confronted the players, local
media reported.
A group of spectators
outside the ground climbed over security fences and entered the stadium just
before the trouble began as the match entered the final two minutes, level at
1-1.
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| A Senegalese player being rough tackled on the pitch |
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| Senegalese players leave the pitch |
Stewards struggled to
keep the pitch invaders under control, with one fan appearing to rugby tackle
Senegal’s Lamine Gassama at the Charlety Stadium on the outskirts of the French
capital.
The players were told
by French referee Tony Chapron to return to the dressing rooms before the game
was abandoned.
Sadio Mane had opened
the scoring for Senegal with a penalty after 68 minutes but Gohi Cyriac
equalised three minutes later.
It is the second time
in five years that a game between the two countries has been called off because
of crowd disturbances.
Senegal were
disqualified from the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations when a riot caused their
playoff with Ivory Coast in Oct. 2012 to be abandoned after missiles, stones,
bottles and firecrackers were thrown onto the pitch in Dakar.
That match was
abandoned after 78 minutes with Ivory Coast leading 2-0 thanks to a double from
Didier Drogba, whose penalty sparked the violence involving large numbers of
Senegal fans.
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