Dhe attack by a spectator on goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic from FC Sevilla during the Europa League game at PSV Eindhoven caused great horror. The man suddenly ran onto the field during the game and punched the 31-year-old Serb in the face. “It’s unimaginable that you attack a player as a spectator. It’s unfortunate that we have to talk about it,” said PSV coach Ruud van Nistelrooy after Thursday night’s game.
The spectator, dressed in a dark jacket, was overpowered by Dmitrovic and brought down, surrounded by players from both teams and then led off the pitch by security guards. “It’s never good to see that in football, it shouldn’t happen and I hope those things will be punished,” Dmitrovic said of the attack. “I can imagine that he was angry about the PSV result. If someone attacks me, I defend myself. He tried to hit me, but I was able to hold him down and wait for security to come.”
When the goalkeeper was attacked in injury time in the second half, it was 1-0 for Eindhoven. Dmitrovic was able to continue playing and conceded another goal. Thanks to the 3-0 win from the first leg, Sevilla nevertheless reached the round of 16 in Europe’s second most important competition. The club is a record winner: in 2006 and 2007, when it was still the UEFA Cup, as well as in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2022 in the Europa League, the title went to the team from Andalusia.
“This game was for you, Ukraine”
According to Eindhoven’s managing director Marcel Brands, the spectator was taken to a police station. “As a CEO, that’s the worst thing that can happen to you. This shouldn’t happen. We will work this up with the folders. If it’s up to me, he’ll be banned from the stadium for life.” PSV is facing a fine from the European Football Union UEFA for the incident. “These things have to stop,” demanded Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli. There was a similar incident in the Premier League in January. Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was kicked in the back by a spectator during the game against Tottenham.
Meanwhile, coach Igor Jovicevic dedicated Shakhtar Donetsk’s entry into the round of 16 in the Europa League with emotional words to the whole of Ukraine. “This game was for you, Ukraine,” the Croatian said after beating France on penalties at Stade Rennes, looking ahead to the anniversary of the start of the Russian incursion on Friday. “It is very difficult for us to live to the rhythm of the bombing and the sirens,” said Jovicevic: “We actually have to think about tactics, but above all we want to wake up alive in the morning.”
Shakhtar has not played a game at home since 2014. In the European Cup, the Ukrainians play their home games in the Polish capital of Warsaw. “It’s my big dream that one day my team will be able to play at home again in a sold-out stadium,” said Jovicevic.
FC Barcelona lost the duel of the heavyweights at the same time. The team around the German national goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen and the former Bayern star Robert Lewandowski missed the round of 16 with a 1: 2 (1: 0) at Manchester United. In the first leg, Barca couldn’t get past a 2-2 draw. Barca took the lead at Old Trafford through Lewandowski (18th minute, penalty kick). Fred (47th) equalized for ManUnited. Antony sealed the Barca exit (73rd).
In contrast, the Italian record champions Juventus Turin are allowed to continue playing in the European Cup for the time being thanks to world champion Angel Di Maria in a nightmare season. The old lady, who is only seventh in Serie A after a point deduction, won 3-0 (2-0) in the second leg at FC Nantes. Argentina’s veteran star Di Maria (5th/20th, penalty kick/78th) scored all the goals for Juve, who were outnumbered early on after Nicolas Pallois (19th) was sent off.
The traditional club, which was eliminated in the preliminary round of the Champions League, was recently deducted 15 points for alleged accounting fraud in connection with player transfers. The club has lodged an appeal with the Supreme Sports Court of the Italian Olympic Committee CONI. AS Roma also reached the round of 16 thanks to the 2-0 (2-0) against RB Salzburg, Sporting Lisbon after a 4-0 (1-0) win at FC Midtjylland in Denmark and FC Sevilla despite the 0-2 (0: 0) at PSV Eindhoven.
