Disgraceful Week Ends With Fan Violence in Spain, Leading to Abandonment of Match

Disgraceful Week Ends With Fan Violence in Spain, Leading to Abandonment of Match

Keba Mothoagae
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:54 PM
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  • A Copa del Rey encounter between Real Betis and Sevilla had to be abandoned after Sevilla player Joan Jordan was struck by a pole thrown from the crowd
  • This was a day after Ghanaian player Benjamin Tetteh punched a Gabonese player at the end of a tense match which ended in a brawl on the pitch
  • Zambian referee Janny Sikhazwe had got the ball rolling in the middle of the week after his embarrassing shenanigans at the end of the match between Mali and Tunisia

A week of infamy for world football ended in absolute disgrace during a Spanish Copa del Rey match between Sevilla and Real Betis on Saturday.

Sevilla player Joan Jordan was hit on the head by a metallic, pole-shaped object which was seemingly thrown from the crowd, though who threw it has not been established. The last 16 tie at the Estadio Benito Villamarin in Seville was level on 1-1 when the incident occurred.

Janny Sikhazwe, Joan Jordan, Benjamin Tetteh, gabon, ghana, mali, tunisia, sevilla, real betis, copa del rey, spain, african cup of nations
Janny Sikhazwe, Joan Jordan and Benjamin Tetteh. Image source: Getty Images and Twitter.
Source: Getty Images

As per ESPN Africa, the incident was caught on video in a television replay, with Jordan collapsing on the ground after being struck, though he was able to get back on his feet while receiving medical attention. Referee Ricardo de Burgos-Burgos wrote in his match report after the abandoning of the encounter that Jordan was hit by a "hollow 50-centimeter (20-inch) PVC bar".

Sevilla wrote on its Twitter account:

"The match has been abandoned after Joan Jordan was hit by an object thrown from the stands. We'll provide you with further updates."

The match was resumed the next day behind closed doors, with Betis emerging 2-1 winners via a strike from Sergio Canales.

Fallout continues among fans after farcical Mali vs Tunisia refereeing debacle

Referee Janny Sikazwe continues to be the subject of derisive debate after his spectacularly disastrous display of handling Mali and Tunisia at the 2021 African Cup of Nations.

Sikazwe bizarrely ended the game three times with Mali leading Tunisia 1-0 in a tense group F encounter in Limbe, reported Sports Brief.

Football social was a war zone of opinions, all mocking Sikazwe for his performance.

Ghana forward Benjamin Tetteh banned for three matches after punch attack

The Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) has banned Black Stars forward Benjamin Tetteh for three matches following his role in the melee that ensued after the Ghana versus Gabon game.

As reported on Sports Brief, the Ghanaian forward attacked a Gabonese player right at the end of the match, starting the scuffles that marred an intense encounter.

In a statement from the CAF's disciplinary committee, the player will first face an automatic two match ban before an added one game suspension for indiscipline.

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Keba Mothoagae
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