Senegal v Ivory Coast: Lamine Gassama tackled in Paris friendly pitch invasion

By BBC

A friendly match between Ivory Coast and Senegal was abandoned when fans invaded the pitch in Paris.

The African sides were level at 1-1 on 88 minutes when a handful of fans broke onto the pitch, with one appearing to rugby tackle Senegal’s Lamine Gassama.

Players ran from the pitch and referee Tony Chapron opted to end the fixture.

Liverpool’s Sadio Mane had given Senegal a second-half lead from the penalty spot but Bi Gohi Cyriac levelled three minutes later.

Local media reported a group of supporters jumped over perimeter fencing at Charlety Stadium moments before the pitch invasion started.

It is the second time in five years that a game between the two countries has been called off because of crowd disturbances.

Senegal were disqualified from the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations when a riot led to a playoff between the sides being abandoned.