Kung Fu keeper: Amazing scenes as goalie attacks fan who ran on pitch... and then match is abandoned as teammates storm off after HE is red carded

-AZ Alkmaar were visiting Ajax in the Dutch Cup
-Esteban Alvarado dismissed after kicking the supporter twice
-His Alkmaar teammates walked off the pitch in protest at his red card
-'He could have walked away', said referee


By Lee Moran



Kung-Fu fighting: AZ Alkmaar's goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado spots an Ajax fan charging at him just in time


A football hooligan stormed a Dutch Cup match to try and Kung Fu kick the rival team's goalkeeper - who himself was then sent off for flooring his would-be attacker.

Chaos erupted 36 minutes into Ajax's clash with AZ Alkmaar at the Amsterdam Arena stadium last night after the drunk 19-year-old ran onto the pitch.

AZ Alkmaar's Costa Rican keeper Esteban Alvarado spotted him launching his flying kick and skilfully tripped him - before himself launching an attack with a series of kicks.

Attacked turned attacker: Alvarado turns the tables on the hooligan by kicking him on the ground


Security guards dragged the supporter away before referee Bas Nijhuis red carded the keeper for violence. Alkmaar coach Gertjan Verbeek then ordered his side to walk off in protest.

Nijhuis said: 'I understand that Esteban was defending himself, but he walked to him (the supporter) and kicked him multiple times. He could also have walked away.'

Ajax was leading the round-of-16 match 1-0 after a goal by Gregory van der Wiel. Attempts to convince Alkmaar to continue were fruitless.

Alkmaar club director Toon Gerbrands said his players 'didn't feel safe any more in this situation'.


Down and out: The hooligan winces in pain as Alvarado launches a series of kicks at him

Calming down: Stewards rushed on to the pitch to intervene following the attack


Ajax apologised for the security lapse and said the supporter would receive a lifetime ban from games.

Dutch Football Association director Bert van Oostveen said his organisation was considering the incident, but is not certain whether the game will be replayed.

Ajax coach Frank de Boer, a renowned former defender for the Netherlands' national team, said of Alvarado's reaction: 'Maybe I would have done the same thing, maybe not. But emotionally I do understand it.'


Chaos: AZ Alkmaar players protest after referee Bas Nijhuis red carded their goalkeeper

You're coming with us: The pitch invader is led away by security staff after disrupting Ajax against AZ Alkmaar


It is not the first time a player has attacked a fan. In 1995, Manchester United's then star Eric Cantona famously lashed out at an abusive supporter who was sitting in the front row during the team's clash with Crystal Palace.

Cantona was fined £20,000, banned for nine months and stripped of his French captaincy after the incident.

He claimed the fan shouted racial insults and threw a missile at him as he walked off the pitch after being given a red card for kicking another player during a tackle.


Anger: AZ Alkmaar players cannot believe their eyes as referee Bas Nijhuis shows a red card to their goalkeeper following the incident


Game over: AZ boss Gert Jan Verbeek orders his team to leave the field in protest at Esteban's sending off


Nothing to do: Ajax players are forced to walk off after AZ refuse to play on following Esteban's red card



source: dailymail