A youth soccer cup ultimate was deserted after being marred by a mass brawl on the pitch.
The match between Tynecastle FC and Portobello CFA 2006s was known as off after gamers and supporters, together with adults, grew to become concerned in a melee.
The incident got here with seconds to go within the South East Area Cup Last in Dunbar, East Lothian, on Sunday.
It was sparked by a collision between the Tynecastle goalkeeper and a Portobello ahead, who needed to be hospitalised following the conflict.
Onlookers described how violence erupted with folks on the sphere “working round like crazed animals”.
Witnesses stated that a participant was struck in the course of the “bedlam”.
Police stated they had been known as to the scene at 6.20pm after experiences of a “battle” breaking out.
The under-16s showpiece, which kicked off at 4.45pm, led to “sickening scenes”, in line with one witness.
He instructed how the Tynecastle goalkeeper collided with the Portobello striker resulting in a “mass riot”.
The witness described how “gamers had been punched to the ground” whereas spectators rushed onto the pitch “combating like two gangs”.
He added: “I witnessed a participant punched to the ground when the bedlam began.”
The witness stated gamers had been “whipped up right into a frenzy” forward of kick-off, which was a “recipe for catastrophe”.
He added: “The ambiance was extraordinarily tense all afternoon.”
Portobello coach Scott Bonar instructed the Document: “The matter is within the fingers of the police.
“With 45 seconds to go, we acquired a penalty. Our participant was out chilly then a Tynecastle participant tried to punch considered one of our gamers.
“As I ran on to are inclined to our gamers, I attempted to interrupt up numerous pushing.”
Scott stated he went to assist the injured participant who was then kicked within the head whereas mendacity stricken.
He added: “His eyes had rolled to the again of his head and he was choking on his tongue after the kick.
“From there it was chaos.”
Scott stated folks had been “making an attempt to calm everybody down” with dad and mom “making an attempt to defuse it as adults had been making an attempt to hit our gamers”.
He added: “It was a horrific expertise after I noticed our participant lifeless. I assumed he was useless.
“Our gamers had been in hysterics.”
The daddy of a Portobello participant took to Twitter following the sport. He stated a “reckless problem from their keeper knocked out our striker”.
He added: “As participant was on deck out chilly he acquired booted within the head. And chaos erupted.”
Requested about what would occur with the deserted match, he later posted: “No concept. Fortunately no critical injury executed. He’s house with a sore face and out for a variety of weeks.”
A Police Scotland spokesman stated: “Officers had been known as to experiences of a battle at a pitch on Kellie Highway, Dunbar, at round 6.20pm on Sunday.
“One individual was taken to hospital to be checked over. Enquiries are ongoing to ascertain the total circumstances.”
Allan Archibald, secretary for the South East Area, stated: “I've no remark to make as it's now a police matter.”
A spokeswoman for the Scottish Youth FA stated: “The SYFA is conscious of incidents which occurred in the course of the South East Regional Cup ultimate.
“As the data is at present being investigated, we won't be commenting any additional at the moment.”
Tynecastle FC had been contacted for remark however didn’t reply.