* Vienna derby called off in the 26th minute
* Dozens of Rapid fans invade pitch
* “Darkest hour” for Rapid president
VIENNA, May 22 (Reuters) - Rapid Vienna’s derby at home to Austria Vienna was called off in the first half on Sunday when dozens of home fans invaded the pitch.
The two teams ran to their changing-rooms as the supporters, many of them shirtless, masked and heavily tattooed, swarmed on to the field in the 26th minute shortly after the visitors had taken a 2-0 lead.
Media reports also said that stones were thrown at the Austria Vienna team bus before the game, breaking windows but not causing any injuries.
Referee Thomas Einwaller abandoned the match at Rapid’s 19,500-capacity Hanappi stadium after a half-hour wait, Rapid’s website said (http://www.skrapid.at/).
“It was a difficult decision as both teams and ourselves, the officials, wanted to continue,” Einwaller told reporters. “But the authorities said they were unable to guarantee the security in the stadium.”
“I’m very sorry for Austrian football.”
The Austrian league will rule on the outcome and will almost certainly award the points to Austria Vienna.
“It’s the darkest hour in my decades with Rapid,” said club president Rudolf Edlinger. “I’m deeply upset, shocked and sad.”
“I want to apologise, especially to the Austria players who were physically threatened.”
The club’s general manager Werner Kuhn said: “Everything we could think of was done to prevent this.
“It’s inexplicable and unforgiveable. There are countless video cameras in the stadium. There’s a big chance we can identify most of these people. We will pursue them and sanction them.”
The fixture is the biggest and oldest derby in the country and was being played for the 297th time.
Rapid are traditionally regarded as the working-class team and their fans look upon their rivals as a bourgeois club.
The incidents came on the penultimate day of the Austrian Bundesliga season which finishes Wednesday.
Salzburg, champions three times in the previous four seasons, saw their title hopes effectively end when they could manage only a 2-2 draw at home to Ried.
That left them three points behind leaders Sturm Graz, who won 2-1 at Wiener Neustadt and have a far superior goal difference.
Samir Muratovic scored the winner with an 87th minute penalty for Graz, who had taken the lead through teenager Florian Kainz just after the hour before Alexander Gruenwald levelled with a free kick.
Austria Vienna, who host Salzburg on Wednesday, will stay two points behind Graz if they are awarded the points from Sunday’s abandoned match. Graz’s last match is at home to Wacker Innsbruck.
* Dozens of Rapid fans invade pitch
* “Darkest hour” for Rapid president
VIENNA, May 22 (Reuters) - Rapid Vienna’s derby at home to Austria Vienna was called off in the first half on Sunday when dozens of home fans invaded the pitch.
The two teams ran to their changing-rooms as the supporters, many of them shirtless, masked and heavily tattooed, swarmed on to the field in the 26th minute shortly after the visitors had taken a 2-0 lead.
Media reports also said that stones were thrown at the Austria Vienna team bus before the game, breaking windows but not causing any injuries.
Referee Thomas Einwaller abandoned the match at Rapid’s 19,500-capacity Hanappi stadium after a half-hour wait, Rapid’s website said (http://www.skrapid.at/).
“It was a difficult decision as both teams and ourselves, the officials, wanted to continue,” Einwaller told reporters. “But the authorities said they were unable to guarantee the security in the stadium.”
“I’m very sorry for Austrian football.”
The Austrian league will rule on the outcome and will almost certainly award the points to Austria Vienna.
“It’s the darkest hour in my decades with Rapid,” said club president Rudolf Edlinger. “I’m deeply upset, shocked and sad.”
“I want to apologise, especially to the Austria players who were physically threatened.”
The club’s general manager Werner Kuhn said: “Everything we could think of was done to prevent this.
“It’s inexplicable and unforgiveable. There are countless video cameras in the stadium. There’s a big chance we can identify most of these people. We will pursue them and sanction them.”
The fixture is the biggest and oldest derby in the country and was being played for the 297th time.
Rapid are traditionally regarded as the working-class team and their fans look upon their rivals as a bourgeois club.
The incidents came on the penultimate day of the Austrian Bundesliga season which finishes Wednesday.
Salzburg, champions three times in the previous four seasons, saw their title hopes effectively end when they could manage only a 2-2 draw at home to Ried.
That left them three points behind leaders Sturm Graz, who won 2-1 at Wiener Neustadt and have a far superior goal difference.
Samir Muratovic scored the winner with an 87th minute penalty for Graz, who had taken the lead through teenager Florian Kainz just after the hour before Alexander Gruenwald levelled with a free kick.
Austria Vienna, who host Salzburg on Wednesday, will stay two points behind Graz if they are awarded the points from Sunday’s abandoned match. Graz’s last match is at home to Wacker Innsbruck.
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