Soccer fan punches Sevilla’s goalkeeper Marko Dmitrović

It was an attack worthy of a red card.

A Europa League game between Philips Sport Vereniging (PSV) and Sevilla briefly descended into chaos when a fan ran onto the field and punched Sevilla’s goalkeeper in the face.

The impromptu fight occurred late in the second-leg match of the Knockout Round playoff series at Philips Stadium in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

The unruly spectator, a short, young man wearing a black jacket and jeans, entered the field and ran straight for Marko Dmitrović, landing a left hook on the goalie’s right cheek.

“I never saw anything like it, I’m not going to say what I really wanted to do,” Dmitrović during an interview after the game obtained by ESPN. “I’m glad I was aware of where he was coming from and was able to stop him, otherwise other things could have happened.”


A PSV supporter pulls his fist back to punch Sevilla's goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic during the Europa League playoff second leg soccer match between PSV and Sevilla at the Philips stadium in Eindhoven, Netherlands, on Feb. 23, 2023.
A PSV supporter pulls his fist back to punch Sevilla’s goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic during the Europa League playoffs at the Philips stadium in Eindhoven, Netherlands, on Feb. 23, 2023.
AP

A fan punches Sevilla's goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic during a Europa League playoff match on Feb. 23, 2023 at Philips Stadium in Eindhoven, Netherlands.
A fan punches Sevilla’s goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic during a Europa League playoff match on Feb. 23, 2023 at Philips Stadium in Eindhoven, Netherlands.
AP

Dmitrović took his attacker to the ground, while players from both teams and stadium security rushed to the goalkeeper’s defense. The Dutch fans booed as the fan was carried off the field.

Dmitrović remained in the game but may have been uneased by the punch as the Serbian was given a yellow card and then let up a second goal in added time in the 2-0 loss.

“He wanted to hit me, it’s unfortunate that this kind of incident happened on a soccer pitch. UEFA should do something, this has to stop,” Dmitrović said, referring to the rise of unruly fans in soccer.


Marko Dmitrovic wrestles a fan to the ground after being punched on Feb. 23.
Marko Dmitrovic wrestles a fan to the ground after being punched on Feb. 23.
AP

Dmitrović, a reserve on Serbia’s 2022 FIFA World Cup team, was not the original keeper for Thursday’s match but started the game after Yassine Bounou got sick.

Not only did PSV lose the two-leg series 3-2, but they will also likely face punishment from UEFA for the fan’s action, according to AP.

Last week a Colombian soccer star was attacked leading to a brawl on the field.

A fan approaches Marko Dmitrovic during Thursday's match.
A fan approaches Marko Dmitrovic during Thursday’s match.
REUTERS
Sevilla's Marko Dmitrovic shoves a fan who punched him, to the ground.
Sevilla’s Marko Dmitrovic shoves a fan who punched him, to the ground.
REUTERS


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Sevilla and PSV players attempt to get Dmitrovic off a fan who attacked the Sevilla goalkeeper.
Sevilla and PSV players attempt to get Dmitrovic off a fan who attacked the Sevilla goalkeeper.
REUTERS
Sevilla and PSV players intervene after a fan entered the pitch and punched Marko Dmitrovic on Feb. 23, 2023.
Sevilla and PSV players intervene after a fan entered the pitch and punched Marko Dmitrovic on Feb. 23, 2023.
AP


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Millonarios midfielder Daniel Catano was warming up prior to a match against his former team Deportes Tolima. As the home crowd was jeering at its former player, a fan ran up to Catano elbowing him in the back of the head.

The fan attempted to run away but Catano caught up and knocked the attacker down. Catano was handed a red card and Millonarios refused to play, leading to the game being postponed before it began.

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