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Swedish match abandoned as fan attacks goalkeeper

A game in Sweden's top division, Allsvenskan, was abandoned on Monday after the goalkeeper for the visiting team was attacked by a pitch invader, local media reported.

Swedish match abandoned as fan attacks goalkeeper

The match between Jönköpings Södra and Östersund was approaching full-time when a masked black-clad supporter burst onto the pitch and assaulted away keeper Aly Keita.

Keita was chased and struck before players and security officials intervened and arrested the attacker.

The keeper was seen clutching his head as he returned to the changing rooms where he was tended to by medics, with the referee stopping the game which had been heading towards a 1-1 draw.

“The Östersund goalkeeper was hurt and treated by doctors. He's not fit to play again,” said match delegate Nicklas Bengtsson.

“Keita is shocked… he's not doing so well,” added Östersund coach Graham Potter.

Asked about the attacker, Jönköping manager Jimmy Thelin said the club had “no idea who he is and where he comes from”.

It's the second time a game in the Swedish top flight has been abandoned this season after a match between Gothenburg and Malmö on April 27th was halted when a firework exploded at the feet of a substitute who was warming up. Malmö were consequently awarded a 3-0 victory.

RACISM

VIDEO: Spain’s La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

Spain's La Liga on Monday said it was reviewing a video of a child making racist insults towards Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during the 2-2 draw with Valencia at the weekend.

VIDEO: Spain's La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

“We’re in the process of studying and analysing the facts from a legal standpoint to see what we can and should do,” La Liga sources said.

In a video published by a journalist for ESPN Brasil, and picked up by Spanish media, a boy sitting in a woman’s lap can be heard calling Vinicius a “monkey”.

The Brazilian scored twice for Madrid as his team recovered from two goals down at Mestalla on Saturday.

Vinicius raised his fist in a “Black Power” salute after the first of his two goals at a ground where he was racially abused last season. Valencia subsequently banned three people from the stadium for life.

The 23-year-old has become a symbol of the fight against discrimination in Spanish football after suffering racist abuse on many occasions, and he was jeered repeatedly by home supporters on Saturday.

Jude Bellingham was sent off after the final whistle against Valencia for protesting after the referee blew the final whistle right before the England midfielder headed home what he thought was the winning goal.

READ ALSO: Football star Vinicius highlights racist behaviour from Spanish fans

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