ZCZC
BSP-11
FBL-EUR-C3
Referee hurt in Romania fan chaos as Europa League tie suspended for 30
minutes
PARIS, Aug 2, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Romanian side Universitatea Craiova
advanced to the third qualifying round of the Europa League on Thursday
despite their fans causing their clash with Honved to be suspended by
striking the referee with an object thrown from the stands.
The goalless tie was heading into extra time in Craiova when a brawl broke
out between both sets of players, during which a smoke bomb landed and
detonated near Northern Irish match official Arnold Hunter.
Images from Romanian broadcaster Digisport appear to show Hunter being hit
by something thrown from the crowd, after which the match was suspended for
over half an hour as the 39-year-old was treated and then left the field amid
confusion over the outcome of the match.
Eventually the fourth official restarted play with just one minute of
extra-time to play, and with the match finishing with no scorers, Craiova
came out on top 3-1 in the penalty shootout.
However reports from Romania suggest that the match was only finished
because local police couldn’t guarantee the safety of officials and Honved
players in the event of the match being called off.
Elsewhere Wolverhampton Wanderers strolled through to the next round with
a 4-1 win at Crusaders to continue to their first European campaign for 39
years with a 6-1 aggregate win over the Northern Irish side.
Torino made the most of AC Milan’s ban from Europe by comfortably seeing
off Debrecen 4-1 to inch closer to the group stage.
Walter Mazzarri’s side still have to navigate two more qualifying rounds
after beating the Hungarians 7-1 on aggregate thanks to goals on the night
from Simone Zaza, Armando Izzo, Andrea Belotti and substitute Vincenzo
Millico.
Torino, who finished seventh in Serie A last season, are in the
competition after AC Milan accepted in June a voluntary ban from European
football for the coming season over breaches of financial fair play rules.
Roma took Milan’s place in the group stage, which starts later this month.
Rangers made it through with a goalless draw at Niedercorn that saw them
win 2-0 on aggregate.
BSS/AFP/BZC/1455HRS