Tel Aviv soccer match stopped after fan runs onto field and assaults player

TEL AVIV, Israel – A soccer match in the Israeli premier league has been stopped after a fan ran onto the field and assaulted a star player.

Cross-city rivals Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv were locked 1-1 in the first half Monday when a shirtless fan ran onto the field and began hitting and kicking Maccabi’s Eran Zehavi.

The two exchanged blows for several moments before security dragged the fan away. The game referee then issued Zehavi a red card, sparking a further outburst from players and fans. After numerous other fans ran onto the field and began exchanging blows, the game was called and the players were evacuated.

Hapoel manager Eyal Berkovic called it a “black day” for Israeli soccer. “This is not soccer, this is war,” he said.

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