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    •  April 28, 2016

    WATCH: Crazed Substitute Launches Corner Flag Javelin Into Rival Fans

    April 28, 2016
    Joe Randall
    Joe Randall
    Editor
    Joe Randall
    Joe Randall
    Editor

     

    SEE ALSO: Riot Police Invade Pitch In Turkey As Fan Bludgeons Referee

     

    The top-flight Swedish league match between IFK Gothenburg and Malmo had to be abandoned after 78 minutes after a firework exploded under the feet of substitute Tobias Sana, who then reacted by throwing a corner flag like a javelin into the offending supporters.

    Malmo winger Sana was warming up on the sidelines at the Gamla Ullevi stadium in Gothenburg, preparing to be introduced for the final ten minutes of the fixture. As the winger was performing his stretches, a firework thrown from a section containing home supporters bounced under his feet and exploded.

     

     

    “I heard the banger, I looked over and saw Tobias Sana bend down,”

    “After that it went quickly, I blew the whistle and got the players in directly.”

    Jonas Eriksson, Match Referee

     

    The magnitude of the blast was shocking, physically shaking the television cameras.

    Angered by the incident, Sana marched towards the Gothenburg supporters before ripping a corner flag out of the ground and launching it like a javelin at the fans occupying the corner of the terrace.

     

     

    Sana, who previously played for Gothenburg before switching to Dutch side Ajax in 2012, was escorted away by security guards and the players were taken off the pitch by the referee with the match goalless.

     

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    Sana has been capped twice by the Sweden national team but may have put his chances of any future international experience in serious trouble following his actions – despite the fact he was clearly provoked by actions of the home supporters –  directly jeopardising the safety of the player with pyrotechnics.

    After a half-hour meeting, a decision was reached to abandon the tie with match delegate Pelle Hoeg stating that security in the ground has been compromised and safety could not be guaranteed.