Fierce derby clash suspended as ‘player hit by firecracker’ in chaotic scenes
For the latest from the pitch sign up for our football newsletter
Thank you for subscribing!
For the latest from the pitch sign up for our football newsletter
We have more newsletters
A Greek Super League clash between Olympiakos and Panathinaikos was abandoned after one player was left injured after being 'hit by a firecracker'.
There's rarely an encounter between the two colossi of Athens that goes by without incident, and Sunday's showdown was no different. However, fans at the Karaiskakis Stadium ruined what was developing into a fine contest after objects were thrown onto the pitch.
And Panathinaikos left-back Juankar came off worse than any other after reports suggested the Real Madrid academy graduate was hit by one of the pyro projectiles that made it onto the turf. The 33-year-old was warming up along the touchline before being taken by surprise and left crumpled in a heap.
READ MORE: Jose Mourinho sent off again as ex-Man Utd boss tells opponent 'you cry too much'
READ MORE: Andy Carroll's remarkable 40-yard lob has fans saying 'class is permanent'
“A firecracker falls on the players of our team who are warming up. Juankar is on the ground injured," read a post from Panathinaikos' official account on X. “Interruption in the match. Our team retires to the locker room.”
Conflicting reports suggested Juankar was not directly hit by a missile, but rather one exploded near him and left the player disorientated. Accounts on social media claimed the player had been taken to hospital before claims to the contrary suggested he had remained at the venue.
What is the fiercest rivalry in football? Let us know in the comments section below.
It was feared the player would have to go to the hospital to treat his injuries after Juankar was wheeled off the pitch on a medical buggy. The rest of the Panathinaikos staff and playing squad soon followed, and the game was delayed by more than an hour as a decision was made over the match.
Reports suggested Panathinaikos refused to come back onto the field, with a final decision over the end result still unclear. It's understood officials were ordering the visitors back onto the field when they refused, meaning Olympiakos may win 3-0 by forfeit.
The new football season is nearly upon us and with 500 live games to watch, as well access to Cricket, Golf, F1, Boxing, NFL and the NBA across eight dedicated channels, Sky Sports is the only way to watch all the action.
Get Sky Sports from £22 a month
It's possible the game will be resumed at a later date, and likely behind closed doors. Panathinaikos took the lead in the derby duel Georgios Vagiannidis opening the scoring before Mady Camara levelled for Olympiakos early in the second half.
In the event Olympiakos are awarded a 3-0 win by default, it seems all but inevitable Panathinaikos would appeal given the (quite literal) impact made by the home fans. They don't call it 'the derby of the eternal rivals' – or the 'mother of all battles' – for nothing.
- FIFA
Source: Read Full Article