A top-flight Swedish game was delayed when a supporter ran on the pitch and attacked a player – before their escape attempt was thwarted.

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• Goteborg face Oster in Swedish league
• Spectator tries to hit defender
• Culprit's escape attempt thwarted

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Goteborg's Allsvenskan clash at home to Oster was halted when a fan tried to punch defender Sebastian Starke Hedlund, but missed. His team-mates then rallied around him and ushered the intruder off the pitch on Thursday. The perpetrator then tried to escape to the safety of the stands with the help of some supporters but he was eventually apprehended.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The match was paused, and then a long meeting took place to see if the fixture should be abandoned. After more than an hour's delay, the game resumed, and Oster went on to win the game 1-0. While nobody was hurt, this was a dark day in Swedish football.

• 'I AM REALLY UPSET'

  Oster manager Martin Foyston said he did not want his players to go out again but they risked forfeiting the match.

  He told Sweden Herald: "I am really upset, same with the players. We really wanted to go home, but if we did, we would have lost 3–0. That we should lose 3-0? A tragic day for Swedish football. We had the chance as a football association, as a nation, to set a standard and an example, but we didn't take it. Such a thing may not happen next week, but it can happen again. And we had the chance as a football league to say that this is unacceptable behaviour."

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• WHAT NEXT?

  An investigation into this matter at Gamla Ullevi football stadium is likely to occur, and a hefty punishment will be heading the way of the culprit.

Tags: Futebol
Category: News