Cody Gakpo’s return to PSV Eindhoven was marred by ugly scenes as a fan invaded the pitch and attacked Sevilla goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic on Thursday.
The Dutchman joined Liverpool for an initial £37m in January, having spent 16 years at PSV, scoring 55 goals from 159 appearances for his boyhood club. Captain of the Eredivisie side before his departure, Gakpo scored 13 goals from 24 appearances for the Dutch outfit during the first half of the season.
PSV hosted Sevilla in the Europa League on Thursday night, and welcomed Gakpo back to the Phillips Stadion as he bid an official farewell to his former club. At half-time a banner of the forward was unveiled by fans as he was paraded on the pitch and gifted a framed shirt.
READ MORE: Every word as Jurgen Klopp drops major hint on Liverpool summer transfer plans and ownership
READ MORE: Liverpool's transfer approach won't change and six other things learned from Jurgen Klopp
Ruud van Nistelrooy's side were looking to overturn a three-goal deficit against Sevilla, but were eliminated despite late goals from Luuk de Jong and Fabio Silva with a 2-0 win not enough to keep them in the competition.
However, Gakpo’s returned was marred by ugly scenes as fan invaded the pitch and attacked goalkeeper Dmitorivic. The supporter would approach the shot-stopper and punch him, only for the Serbian to wrestle him to the floor before pinning him to the ground.
Several Sevilla players, and a couple of PSV counterparts, would race over to aid the goalkeeper, before he was eventually led away by stewards in the closing stages of the match.
Dmitrovic told reporters afterwards: "It's never nice to see this in football. It shouldn't happen and, from now on, I hope these things are well punished.
“He came and pushed me from behind. He was probably angry about the result. He tried to hit me and I managed to grab him and wait for security to arrive."
Sevilla boss Jorge Sampaoli added: "It is incredibly sad that this has happened. I find it worrying - this type of thing needs to stop."
UEFA have now opened a disciplinary case against PSV following the unsavoury incident.
READ NEXT
- Liverpool man refused to play after broken promises and controversial transfer
- Jordan Henderson lifts lid on infamous reply to Roy Keane during heated meeting
- Real Madrid have just answered any lingering Liverpool transfer questions
- Chelsea might be about to hand Liverpool a transfer chance too good to turn down
- FSG have already hinted at why selling Liverpool isn't their best move
