Fans Throw Bottles, Chase Soccer Players Off Field In Scary Scene

Just ask Israeli side Ashdod, which met CSKA Sofia in a friendly Sunday afternoon that ended in its players literally running for their lives.

The attack came after members of the Ashdod team committed a rough foul against a player from CSKA Sofia at the end of the second half of the match.

Tension had been increasing throughout the ill-tempered match, and after the players were chased from the pitch, Israeli coaching staff were targeted in the dugout, with fans smashing against protective barriers, hurling abuse. One fan threw what appeared to be a glass bottle and hit an Ashdod player in the head.

According to Bulgarian site Sportal.bg, the fans were upset with the physical nature of Ashdod’s play.

Zrihen was the third Ashdod player to be sent off in the match, with Gadi Kinda being shown a red card in the 20th minute for complaining to the referee that he wasn’t officiating the match fairly.

CSKA are known as Bulgaria’s military club and are the country’s most successful side, having won 31 titles and 23 national cups.