Edinburgh police are investigating after a youth football match descended into chaos with players and parents fighting on the pitch at the weekend.
Officers were scrambled to attend Dunbar Utd’s Countess Park that was the venue for the South East Region Final between Portobello and Tynecastle U16’s, yesterday afternoon (Sunday 29 May).
The match was tied at 2-2, when what was said to have been an accidental collision involving the Tynecastle goalkeeper and a Portobello player led to the latter being knocked unconscious, and the game stopped as a result.
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Quick-thinking adults on the scene attended to the unconscious player as pandemonium unfolded around them.
The incident led to a mass brawl among the two opposing players, groups of young and adult fans - with several sources claiming that at least two youth footballers were punched in the face whilst another was racially abused.
It was alleged that parents became involved in the melee following the players breaking into a brawl and a group of youth spectators exacerbating the problem - with some apparently confronting the youth players involved.
Although it is understood that the vast majority of the adults in attendance had stormed the pitch in order to calm tensions.
One source, who has been involved in youth football for years, said: “It is the worst thing I have ever seen during my time in the game.”
The match was abandoned after police dispersed the crowd and it is understood that no replay will take place although this has not yet been confirmed.
The source added: “There was a collision between the Tynie keeper and a player for Portobello which was accidental but everything stemmed from that.
“There are always big crowds at these end of season cup finals. But when it kicked off the players from each team apparently started fighting and parents stormed on the pitch and were allegedly trying to fight each other and with players.
“I’d spoken to scouts and they said they had not seen anything like it. The referee was meant to have been really shaken up.
“I’ve heard the ref was about to give a penalty but everything just kicked off.
“One of the players was apparently decked with a hook to the jaw. Parents were on the pitch from every angle and it’s claimed they were throwing punches.
“I’ve spoken to several folk and they have said they have never seen anything like it in youth football.
“The game is going to the dogs at the moment. Not enough good people involved.”
Another individual, who does not wish to be named, confirmed that the fight broke out after the accidental collision that knocked a Portobello player unconscious - it is understood that the player is now home and recovering from the injury.
They also confirmed that adult spectators had become involved in the violent scene on the pitch but that the vast majority “were trying to keep the peace and de-escalate the situation.”
They added: “There wasn’t that much fighting but a lot of pushing going on. It may have seemed worse with everyone piling onto the pitch.
“A couple of players were punched and another was apparently kicked in the head.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Officers were called to reports of a fight at a pitch on Kellie Road, Dunbar at around 6.20pm on Sunday, 29 March, 2022.
“One person was taken to hospital to be checked over. Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”
The person taken to hospital was the player knocked out by the accidental collision - it is believed that no one was treated for injuries following the fight.
Both Portobello and Tynecastle U16’s have been contacted for comment.
