Soccer
Pirates fans go ballistic
2012-08-26 10:23
Johannesburg - Orlando Pirates fans showed their
dismay at the team's home loss on Saturday night by hurling objects,
including vuvuzelas, onto the pitch and at stadium security.
The
Buccaneers, defending champions of the MTN8 cup, were eliminated from
the competition after a 3-0 defeat to SuperSport United in the
second-leg semi-final at Orlando Stadium.
The match descended
into chaos when key striker Benni McCarthy was sent off just before the
half-time break after he was shown a second yellow card by the match
referee.
"Human beings sometimes react [to] a wrong decision," Pirates coach Augusto Palacios said after the match.
"It happens in football. I can't stop it. It's wrong, but I can't stop it."
During the game three fireworks were lit, and one was thrown at United goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez.
The
match had to be halted in the 66th minute as the referee called players
into the centre circle, waiting for the crowd to calm down as fireworks
were lit.
The delay was short and play resumed in a matter of minutes.
Police
were called to the stadium after full-time, and a heavy-duty police
vehicle drove onto the field as a precautionary measure.
Two fans
were seen arrested by stadium security in the players' tunnel after the
game, shortly before the post-match media conference.
Carol Tshabalala, a presenter for broadcaster SuperSport, tweeted:
“Pitch invaded by fans. We had to run off.