Fireworks on the pitch… literally! Games at both Hashtag United and Waterford are marred on Bonfire Night by idiotic fans aiming rockets at players – with one match ABANDONED after supporters refused to stop
- Waterford’s game against Shamrock Rovers was suspended due to fireworks
- Fans in the away stand ignited fireworks the and threw them down onto the pitch
- Anthony Wordsworth was injured by two fireworks and received assistance
- The game restarted after an eight minute stoppage and Shamrock Rovers won
- Hashtag United’s game was also abandoned when a player was hit by a firework
Games across the world were disrupted by fireworks on Friday evening but none more so that of Hashtag United and Waterford.
Footage has emerged of fans in Ireland igniting fireworks and aiming them at the players on the pitch. As a result, Waterford’s game was suspended.
Meanwhile, Hashtag United had to abandon their game after fireworks let off in a nearby house struck one of their players on the pitch.
Games at both Hashtag United and Waterford were disrupted by fireworks on Friday night
Footage (above) has emerged of fans lighting the fireworks and throwing them onto the pitch just 15 minutes in to the game
Waterford’s game against Shamrock Rovers was suspended after fireworks exploded onto the pitch at the RSC.
Referee Rob Hennessy was forced to suspend the game after fans in the away stand ignited fireworks the and threw them down onto the pitch.
Players and sport staff were seen protecting their heads as they ducked to take cover during the fixture on Friday evening.
Footage has emerged of fans lighting the fireworks and throwing them onto the pitch just 15 minutes in to the game.
Three large fireworks exploded over the heads of the players before Hennessy called for the game to be suspended.
Waterford’s Anthony Wordsworth was visibly injured by the fireworks and received assistance from his team-mates after being struck twice.
The game restarted after an eight minute stoppage but a PA announcement was made saying: ‘The referee has stated that if there is any more anti-social behaviour, the game will be abandoned.’
Shamrock Rovers went on to win the game 3-1 despite Waterford taking an early lead through John Martin.
It is believed the police removed several fans associated with the fireworks from the stadium.
Those fans are likely to face prosecution as the law in the Republic of Ireland states that ‘only category F1 fireworks (such as sparklers) are available for sale, possession and use to amateurs.’
The incident at the RSC comes just days after Dundalk announced that any fans caught with pyrotechnics at matches would face a lifetime ban.
The Hashtag United reserve team were winning their game against Crookz United 2-0 when Matas Skrna (above) was struck by a firework
The rocket came flying out of a house nearby and hit Skrna on the ankle. The player fell to the ground in agony but the club have since confirmed he is ok
Meanwhile, the Hashtag United reserve team were forced abandoned their game after fans aimed fireworks onto the pitch.
The Hashtag United reserves were winning their game against Crookz United 2-0 when Matas Skrna was struck by a firework.
The rocket came flying out of a house nearby and hit Skrna on the ankle. The player fell to the ground in agony before receiving help from his team-mates.
The club have since confirmed on Twitter that Skrna is ok but said the game had to abandoned as the house where fireworks came from refused to stop.
The Essex-based club also confirmed that the police had been called to intervene following the incident.