A Colombian football player was sent off after a fan ran onto the pitch to attack him and he retaliated by pushing him to the ground.
CNN reports that a Colombian first-division game between Deported Tolima and Millonaris had just kicked off when a fan broke onto the pitch.
The pitch invader had made a beeline to Millonarios player Daniel Cataño and struck him in the back of the head from behind just as the whistle had been blown.
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The 31-year-old had previously played for Deported Tolima before transferring to his current side in 2022.
Catano responded to the attack by chasing down the fan and knocking him to the ground before security came and collected the assailant.
As the fan was escorted out of the stadium by police the referee decided the act of defence was worthy of a red card to Catano.
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The dismissal was followed up with an army of complaints from the number 10’s teammates.
However, based on the severity of the situation Millonarios decided it would not continue the match over concerns for players' safety.
The club released a statement following the incident, saying: “Given this situation and considering the inherent risks of the show and the difficulty of guaranteeing the safety of the players, it was decided that it was not prudent to compromise their integrity.
“These arguments were shared with the Police Commander, the officiating team and DIMAYOR [the governing body responsible for the top two divisions in Colombian football] delegates.
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“Millionarios is emphatic in pointing out that the priority is the safety of the players and members of the coaching staff, as well as that of all those who attend the sports scene.
“Acts of violence must be firmly rejected. We appreciate the understanding and solidarity of our fans.”
However, according to The Sun, Tolima President Cesar Camargo wasn’t happy at all with the other side’s decision to abandon the game.
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He said: “The fan is out of control and will have to be prosecuted.
"And for a team to withdraw from the field is a boycott of the game and the sport, it is not worth putting pressure on us in that way."
According to Pledge Times, the attacker was identified as 21-year-old Alejandro Montenegro.
He published a video after being released from custody on Monday (February 13), in which he apologised for his actions, saying he got ‘carried away’.
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Montenegro faces a fine and a ban on entering stadiums.
Featured Image Credit: @MillonariosEste/Twitter.
