Nations League clash ruined by violence as fans storm pitch and fight in stands
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 Chakvetadze 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.
READ MORE: Scotland RELEGATED from Nations League as furious fans make feelings clearREAD MORE: Sir Alex Ferguson leads emotional Scotland tribute to Man Utd legend Denis LawHaving won 3-0 in Yerevan on Thursday, Georgia made the perfect start courtesy of an own goal in the fourth minute. Mikautadze made it 5-0 on aggregate 10 minutes later before goals from Watford winger Chakvetadze and Kiteishvilli increased their advantage.
Mikautadze scored again before half-time. Armenia pulled a goal back through Edgar Sevikyan early in the second half before Kvaratskhelia got in on the act.
Georgia can now prepare for World Cup qualifying, during which they'll face Turkey, Bulgaria and Spain. Armenia will play the Republic of Ireland, Hungary and Portugal.
Elsewhere in the play-offs to reach League B, Slovenia fended off Slovakia and the Republic of Ireland beat Bulgaria. Kosovo were the only team to earn promotion, as they hammered Iceland 5-2 on aggregate.
In League A, Scotland suffered relegation at the hands of Greece, throwing away their advantage from the first leg. Also going down to the second tier of the Nations League are Hungary, who lost to Turkey 6-1 on aggregate.
Austria joined them by losing 2-0 in Serbia while Belgium were the only team to avoid dropping down from the top tier, as they pulled off a second-leg comeback against Ukraine. The next Nations League campaign takes places in the 2026-27 season.
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