Man Tries To Grab World Cup Before Final

m.today

Johannesburg, July 11: As Spain and the Netherlands prepared for their clash on Sunday evening, an unidentified man leapt onto the pitch and ran towards the halfway line, where the trophy was placed on a plinth.

 

It appeared as if the pitch invader was attempting to place an orange and black beanie hat on top of the gold cup.

However, he was accosted within inches of the trophy by a security guard wearing a black suit, who knocked him to the ground with a blow to his face.

 

The grinning man, wearing black jeans, white trainers and a black T-shirt was then carried out of the Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg by seven security guards. 

South African police said the man was “asking for serious trouble” by attempting the stunt as the 94,000-strong crowd looked on in disbelief.

He has been arrested and is expected to appear in court on Monday.

Colonel Vishnu Naidoo, a police spokesman, said: "This guy was asking for serious trouble. We take a very dim view of something like this. "Officers had him under control within seconds and he will be in court at the earliest opportunity. He will be up before a World Cup magistrate on two charges.