Ninja goalie!
Dec. 23rd, 2011 02:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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The Dutch FA have ruled that the AZ Alkmaar goalkeeper who was sent off for repeatedly kicking a pitch invader -- leading to the game being abandoned -- will not face any suspension.
The fan, identified by Ajax as a 19-year-old "who had been drinking", approached Alkmaar's Esteban Alvarado from behind after 36 minutes of their Dutch cup match on Wednesday. However the Costa Rican saw him coming, tripped him up, then kicked him before stewards intervened.
The referee Bas Nijhuis responded to the incident by showing Esteban a red card for violent conduct, prompting an outraged Alkmaar coach Gertjan Verbeek to order his side to walk off. Despite efforts to convince them to come back, the team refused and the game was called off.
Nijhuis said afterwards: "I understand that Esteban was defending himself, but he walked to him [the supporter] and kicked him multiple times. He could also have walked away."
The Laws of Football state: "A player is guilty of violent conduct if he uses excessive force or brutality against an opponent when not challenging for the ball. He is also guilty of violent conduct if he uses excessive force or brutality against a team-mate, spectator, match official or any other person."
The Dutch FA's disciplinary committee later intervened and, while confirming Nijhuis was right to show the red card, ruled that Alvarado would not be suspended as a result, due to the exceptional circumstances. AZ praised the intervention as "only right... this is the best decision".
The FA is still considering whether to have the game completed or replayed. Ajax were leading 1-0 at the time of the abandonment.
Ajax apologised for the security lapse and said the supporter will receive a lifetime ban. "This was a terrible incident and we deeply regret it and offer our sincere apologies," said director Jeroen Slop. "The supporter has been handed over to the police. He just said he hated the AZ goalkeeper and had therefore attacked him."
Police are holding the supporter, whose name was not released, on assault charges -- and made 25 other arrests during and after the match.
The country's justice minister Ivo Opstelten said the attack was "beastly" and warned: "Jerks and nuts don't belong on the field." He added that he thought AZ's Verbeek was right to walk out under the circumstances. "I have a lot of respect for how he acted."
The Dutch FA have ruled that the AZ Alkmaar goalkeeper who was sent off for repeatedly kicking a pitch invader -- leading to the game being abandoned -- will not face any suspension.
The fan, identified by Ajax as a 19-year-old "who had been drinking", approached Alkmaar's Esteban Alvarado from behind after 36 minutes of their Dutch cup match on Wednesday. However the Costa Rican saw him coming, tripped him up, then kicked him before stewards intervened.
The referee Bas Nijhuis responded to the incident by showing Esteban a red card for violent conduct, prompting an outraged Alkmaar coach Gertjan Verbeek to order his side to walk off. Despite efforts to convince them to come back, the team refused and the game was called off.
Nijhuis said afterwards: "I understand that Esteban was defending himself, but he walked to him [the supporter] and kicked him multiple times. He could also have walked away."
The Laws of Football state: "A player is guilty of violent conduct if he uses excessive force or brutality against an opponent when not challenging for the ball. He is also guilty of violent conduct if he uses excessive force or brutality against a team-mate, spectator, match official or any other person."
The Dutch FA's disciplinary committee later intervened and, while confirming Nijhuis was right to show the red card, ruled that Alvarado would not be suspended as a result, due to the exceptional circumstances. AZ praised the intervention as "only right... this is the best decision".
The FA is still considering whether to have the game completed or replayed. Ajax were leading 1-0 at the time of the abandonment.
Ajax apologised for the security lapse and said the supporter will receive a lifetime ban. "This was a terrible incident and we deeply regret it and offer our sincere apologies," said director Jeroen Slop. "The supporter has been handed over to the police. He just said he hated the AZ goalkeeper and had therefore attacked him."
Police are holding the supporter, whose name was not released, on assault charges -- and made 25 other arrests during and after the match.
The country's justice minister Ivo Opstelten said the attack was "beastly" and warned: "Jerks and nuts don't belong on the field." He added that he thought AZ's Verbeek was right to walk out under the circumstances. "I have a lot of respect for how he acted."
