Referee Halts Conference League Clash as Fans Pelt Opposing Goalkeeper with Snowballs
In a recent Europa Conference League encounter between Aberdeen and HJK Helsinki, an unexpected disruption unfolded, leading to a temporary halt in play. The disturbance arose from the actions of Aberdeen’s away fans, who took advantage of the wintry weather conditions by targeting the opposing goalkeeper with snowballs. This act prompted the match referee to pause proceedings while Helsinki maintained a 2-1 lead.
The referee stops the game in Helsinki ⛔️
Reason: Aberdeen fans throwing snowballs at the HJK goalkeeper… 😅#UECL pic.twitter.com/Kj1NP9zCI6
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 30, 2023
Despite both teams being out of contention for advancement to the knockout stages, the dominance of PAOK and Frankfurt in Group G remained evident. However, the seemingly playful actions of the Scottish fans appeared to influence the game, as Aberdeen managed to level the scoreline at 2-2 in the 56th minute through Luis Henriques de Barros Lopes.
Although the snowball barrage did not cause significant harm to the Helsinki goalkeeper, the match official deemed it a potential hazard to Maenpaa, guarding the goal. Visibly disheartened by the conduct of their away supporters, the Aberdeen players, notably de Barros Lopes, who secured the equalizer, expressed evident dismay towards the situation.
The game ultimately concluded as a 2-2 draw, with both sides left with nothing but pride to salvage in light of the group’s standings. For Aberdeen, concluding their European campaign early might offer a reprieve, considering their ongoing struggles in domestic competitions, despite finishing third in the previous season. The match followed a challenging spell for the Scottish side, facing formidable opponents in back-to-back clashes—suffering a 6-0 defeat to Celtic but securing a valuable point against Rangers at home.
