Chaos as Orlando Pirates sink to 80-year low
AFP
AFP, JOHANNESBURG: Orlando Pirates supporters staged a pitch invasion, fought rival fans and damaged TV cables Saturday as the 80-year-old club suffered a record defeat.
Reigning African champions Mamelodi Sundowns humiliated former African champions Pirates 6-0 in a South African Premiership match at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria.
When Percy Tau completed the rout on 81 minutes with his second goal, spectators wearing Pirates colours swarmed on to the pitch and fought with rival supporters.
Several spectators were injured and taken to hospital by ambulance before police restored order in one of the high-profile fixtures in the South African football calendar.
Pirates supporters also interfered with TV cables, forcing the pan-African SuperSport channel to temporarily halt live coverage of the game. The pitch invasion forced play to be suspended for one hour, by which time order had been restored and most Pirates supporters had left the ground.
It was the second time this season Soweto-based Pirates have conceded six goals, losing 6-1 to another Pretoria club, SuperSport United, last November.
Turkish coach Muhsin Ertugral resigned after that debacle and was replaced on a caretaker basis by long-time club employee Augusto Palacios. Peruvian Palacios did not return to the touchline when the match resumed, staying in the changing room while the remaining eight minutes were played.
