Coventry have abandoned a Champions League match against Benfica after the visiting visitors left the field with just six players following a pitch invasion.
Benfica abandoned the match after members of their travelling party ran onto the pitch after an innocuous foul early in the second half.
Benfica’s players and staff responded angrily and injured Coventry winger Lee Hughes tumbled to the turf in apparent frustration.
A later storm over the corner flag, while an attack on Cauley Woodrow shortly after, appeared to be what triggered the stampede.
Matters then became further inflamed when Coventry manager Tony Mowbray attempted to keep the match going, suggesting he had been “saved” from becoming the team’s sixth player.
Having lost a large chunk of his home support, a supporter ran on to the pitch and was overcome by the atmosphere as he was taken off the field.
A pitch invasion caused by Benfica’s players and staff has led to the abandonment of the game. WATCH #CFSUB reports later from ClubGreen pic.twitter.com/QDAN64IHic — Coventry City AFC (@CoventryCity) October 18, 2011
The disruption left the Sky Blues facing a 2-0 defeat as Benfica qualified for the second round of the Champions League with a 3-0 victory in Lisbon.