Senegal v Ivory Coast match abandoned in Paris after pitch invasion, player ‘rugby tackled’ (VIDEO)
An international football friendly between Senegal and the Ivory Coast in Paris on Monday night was abandoned after fans invaded the pitch, one of which tackled a player.
The score was 1-1 when a number of fans ran onto the pitch towards the end of the match at the Stade Charlety in the French capital.
READ MORE: Armed Croatian hooligan invades pitch in bid to attack referee (VIDEO)
Senegal player Lamine Gassama appeared to be tackled by one fan who entered the pitch.
Last night's friendly between Senegal and Ivory Coast was something else pic.twitter.com/KOhtVAiJa3
— Michael Oti Adjei (@OtiAdjei) 28 March 2017
Referee Tony Chapron – who had earlier been forced to delay the start to the second half because of fans on the pitch – decided to tell the players to leave the field and called the match off in the 88th minute.
Senegal had taken the lead through a penalty scored by Liverpool striker Sadio Mane on 67 minutes, but Cyriac Gohi Bi equalized for the Elephants shortly afterwards.
Sadio Mane scored a penalty for Senegal against Ivory Coast! pic.twitter.com/uJvYwuV1C0
— Anfield Goals (@AnfieldGoals_) 27 March 2017
Speaking to the BBC about the pitch invasion, L'Equipe journalist Herve Penot said: "[It] could have been very serious.
"I wouldn't say the people were violent, it was much more about trying to be with the players. But you never know what can happen, the organisation was a disaster, it was incredible.
"After 20-30 minutes a couple of people were on the pitch, then they couldn't start the second-half because they had people on the pitch and the referee said if it happens again he will stop the game. It was very messy."
Sadio Mane’s Senegal forced to race off the pitch due to pitch invasion: https://t.co/D2fTN4aF6Npic.twitter.com/toFDSqSckb
— Liverpool FC News (@LivEchoLFC) 28 March 2017
It’s not the first time a game between the two countries has been called off. During the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, a riot by Senegal fans forced a match between the two teams to be abandoned.
READ MORE: FIFA bans Ghanaian referee for life over ‘match manipulation’ in World Cup qualifier
On that occasion, stones, bottles and fireworks were launched onto the pitch during the match in Dakar. Ivory Coast were leading 2-0 when played was stopped in the 77th minute, and were subsequently awarded the victory by the same scoreline. Senegal were disqualified from the competition.
