Top-flight match abandoned as fans storm pitch with team seconds from title | Football | Sport

A ferocious football derby in Czechia descended into complete chaos as a mass pitch invasion forced the game to be abandoned in scenes reminiscent of a warzone. The clash between fierce city rivals Slavia Prague and Sparta Prague spiralled into mayhem when hundreds of home supporters stormed the pitch during the seventh minute of stoppage time.

One troubling image appeared to show goalkeeper Jakub Surovcik being struck in the face by a flare, then falling to the ground. Slavia Prague were leading 3-2 against their opponents and were just seconds away from clinching the league title when the terraces at Eden Stadium emptied.

The sudden surge of supporters, many carrying smoke bombs, left the ground engulfed in a dense haze of pyrotechnics as the situation rapidly spiralled out of control.

Referee Karel Roucek had no choice but to halt the match before ultimately calling it off entirely as the pitch descended into a scene of utter disorder.

The senseless violence drew widespread condemnation. Oneplay Sport pundit Zdenek Folprecht fumed in the studio: “It’s a disgrace.”

Even the Slavia supporters who had remained in the stands turned on the troublemakers, booing the pitch invaders and directing abuse at them.

Fearing for their safety, the Sparta squad refused to return to the pitch, instead boarding their team coach and leaving the stadium immediately.

It wasn’t just Surovcik who bore the brunt of the supporters’ violence, as his team-mate Matyas Vojta and a member of the Sparta medical team were also reportedly assaulted during the melee.

Taking to Instagram to voice his fury, Surovcik wrote: “To have someone run up to me during the match, threaten me to my face, and attack me is absolutely unacceptable. I will pursue this legally.”

Slavia chief Jaroslav Tvrdík was forced to issue an apology for the shameful episode in Czech football. Addressing the remaining supporters, he said: “I’m truly sorry to say this, because I thought we would celebrate the title together.

“But things turned out differently, as two Sparta players were physically attacked. The opponent has already left the stadium, and the match officials, security, and police have decided to end the game.”

Slavia now face an anxious wait to learn what sanctions they will face, as Tvrdík admitted that a forfeit remains a real possibility.