Tag: Europa League

The PSV fan who ran on the field and attacked Sevilla goalkeeper Marko Dmitrović during a game last month has been handed a two-month jail sentence.

In the middle of PSV’s Europa League match at home against Sevilla, the 20-year-old man ran onto the Philips Stadium pitch and made a beeline for the Serbia international keeper.

Video footage showed the man throw a punch at Dmitrović, who then wrestled him to the ground and restrained him before security intervened.

In not-so-stunning news, the fan had 1. A prior history of soccer-related offenses, and was 2. Drunk.

“The suspect not only violated a stadium and area ban, he also went onto the field in a drunken state to assault a soccer player,” the East Brabant District Court said. “This is completely disrespectful to the victim, the soccer clubs and all true supporters of PSV. In addition, the suspect was convicted twice in 2021 for soccer-related offenses.”

The court said the fan had already been banned from the area around Philips Stadium, and had a friend buy a ticket to the game for him.

UEFA has also opened a disciplinary case into PSV, with the Dutch club expected to receive some form of punishment.

“If someone attacks me, I’m going to defend myself. I think he brushed against me, he couldn’t hit me,” Dmitrović said after the incident. “I managed to beat him. I was on the ground for a long time until security came.”

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When you go to a soccer game, there are things you should do: sing a song, talk with friends, marvel at the amazing things people can do while kicking a ball around.

One thing you should not do, though, is go on the field after your team loses to punch a goalkeeper (or anyone else).

One PSV fan seemingly did not know that important Soccer Don’t, as a supporter ran onto the field at Phillips Stadion to attack Sevilla goalkeeper Marko Dmitrović after the Spanish side held on to a 3-2 Europa League aggregate win.

The lone fan was seen on video from the stands approaching to shove Dmitrović from behind. The fan then threw a punch after Serbia’s deputy goalkeeper seemed to more or less be asking what the problem was.

Dmitrović, to his immense credit, managed to calmly get the man on the ground and hold him there — eventually with players from both teams helping out — before stadium security hauled the fan away.

Estaba Navas, Téllez, Suso o Montiel, pues se va para Marko Dmitrovic, serbio de 1’90 que tiene pinta de portero de discoteca.

Demasiado poco le ha hecho, que un par de ostias le ha podido dar.

Grande Dimitrovic!! Vamos Sevilla!! pic.twitter.com/hzEaUhWQDc

— Maxi (@maxi23m) February 23, 2023

Following the game — and in a sterling example of understatement — Dmitrović told Tiempo de Juego that he was “surprised” by what had happened.

“If someone attacks me, I’m going to defend myself. I think he brushed against me, he couldn’t hit me,” said the 6-foot-4 Dmitrović. “I managed to beat him. I was on the ground for a long time until security came.”

In fact, before security arrived, the first people that showed up to help Dmitrović were PSV players, and eventually just about every Sevilla player converged as well. Dmitrović appeared to be no worse for wear, and will presumably be excited to find out who Sevilla will face in the quarterfinal.

High drama at Phillips Stadion

The match itself was more than a little dramatic. Sevilla won the first leg 3-0, and got within 15 minutes of a straightforward victory in a competition that they have long thrived in.

However, Luuk de Jong’s 77th minute goal gave PSV a glimmer of hope, and a Fábio Silva finish amid a scrum five minutes into stoppage time set up a possible grandstand finish. However, with PSV protesting for one more set piece opportunity, referee Daniele Orsato blew for full time. Mauro Júnior was sent off in the chaos, but little did anyone know, things were boiling over down at the other end of the field.

And now, unfortunately for that fan, there are some photos that make him look foolish.

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