Georgia hosted Armenia on Sunday for the second leg of their Nations League play-off, with the home side running out 6-1 winners before violent clashes marred the game
Fights broke out between Georgian and Armenian football fans after their teams’ Nations League play-off match. Hosts Georgia romped to a 6-1 victory before violent clashes occurred after the full-time whistle.
Hundreds of fans poured onto the pitch at the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena in Tbilisi, as supporters jumped barriers and evaded security. In the stands, police were forced to intervene after objects were thrown between the home and away fans.
Feverish supporters initially appeared to enter the pitch in attempt to take pictures with the players and ask for their shirts. But the chaos could now lead to punishment for both the Georgian and Armenian football federations.
Premier League referee Anthony Taylor was in charge of the match which saw Georgia claim a 9-1 win on aggregate, maintaining their place in the second tier of the Nations League. Georgia and Armenia are neighbouring countries, announcing earlier this week that they’re bidding to co-host the 2029 under-20 World Cup.
Paris Saint-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who left Napoli around £59million in January, bagged Georgia’s sixth goal, joining team-mates Georges Mikautadze, Giorgi Chakvetadz and Otar Kiteishvilli on the scoresheet. Having finished second in their Nations League group last autumn, Armenia – managed by former Ajax boss John van’t Schip – will remain in the third tier.
Elsewhere in the play-offs to reach League B, Kosovo beat Iceland 5-2 on aggregate to secure promotion. Slovenia, meanwhile, fended off Slovakia with a 1-0 win to hold onto their second-tier status.
The Republic of Ireland did the same, beating Bulgaria 2-1 after a win by the same scoreline.
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