Game called off as fans storm field
The long-anticipated match between Giyani Happy Boys and Emanuel FC on Saturday was abruptly abandoned after supporters of Emanuel FC broke down a fence and stormed onto the field to protest against a goal that Happy Boys scored in the final 15 minutes of the match.
The two long-time rivals were playing their final match in the ABC Motsepe Stream-A league when the incident happened. With both teams having secured their positions for the next season in the ABC Motsepe league, the Saturday match was more about settling scores with their old rivals stemming from when their grandfathers and fathers played. The teams from neighbouring villages are known to mock
each other if one side loses a match, and although the owners have shaken hands on many occasions, the rivalry still exists.
During Saturday’s match, Emanuel FC appeared to have the upper hand over the Happy Boys. However, they seemed to have a problem with the referee from the start, they even approached the referee after the first half to complain about unfair refereeing. After Emanuel FC had scored its first goal, the Happy Boys equalised through a penalty shot a moment later. Emanuel FC and its supporters believed it was
wrongly granted. Despite the setback, Emanuel scored another goal to make it 2-1.
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The Happy Boys again quickly responded with another goal to level the score. Moments later, the referee granted the Happy Boys a free kick, which Emanuel again believed was also granted unlawfully. The same free kick resulted in a goal that Emanuel FC players believed was finished off by hand. Supporters became rowdy as the players approached the referee to protest against the goal. The referee was shielded
by players from both sides from angry supporters. The match had to be cancelled as the referees were no longer safe with the supporters on the playing field.
