Maduka Okoye has kept three clean sheets this season and is expected to be in goal for Super Eagles in the 2022 World Cup playoff against Ghana
By Kehinde Okeowo
The football fan who invaded the pitch
and attempted to attack Nigerias’ first choice goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye during a Dutch Eredivisie game between Vitesse and Sparta Rotterdam has explained his action.
Sparta Rotterdam who are battling relegation in the division were leading the home side, Vitesse 1-0 and with stoppage time approaching, Okoye who had saved a spot kick was confronted by a pitch invader before he was later struck in the head with an object.
The incident forced the referee to end the game before time with the Eredivise claiming an investigation will be initiated and a decision taken on the result of the match.
“The match between Vitesse and Sparta has been discontinued tonight (March 4, 2022) at a 0-1 score due to fireworks from the (home) public,” the league body said.
It added, “This was done after consultation of the referee with both clubs. The incident will now be investigated by the disciplinary committee.”
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Vitesse have now identified that assailant who invaded the pitch, and released a statement on their official website explaining what transpired in the course of the match.
Tagged “Back together to a safe and atmospheric football party’, the statement said the lone pitch invader, who had not been to the stadium before, attempted to attack the Nigerian because he lost a bet.
I”The absolute low point was the discontinued match against Sparta. Maduka Okoye, the keeper of the Rotterdam team, was harassed by a field stormer and not much later a cup of beer was thrown against his head. Where fireworks were also thrown towards Sparta’s goal, centre referee Rob Dieperink had to call off the game and send the players in.
“The annoying thing for Vitesse is that last Friday’s pitch stormer was ‘a lost German’. “The clash with Sparta was overshadowed by the misbehavior of a few individuals, who ruined it for the vast majority. In some cases, it is even about a loner who has never been to GelreDome. For example, think of Friday’s field stormer; a lost German, with a lost bet. Completely unaware of what damage he would cause with his action,” they statement explained further.
The club also suspended a large number of the supporters involved in the event of that day and beefed up the security around the stadium, as a deterrent for future occurrence.
Maduka Okoye has kept three clean sheets this season and is expected to be in goal for Super Eagles in the 2022 World Cup playoff against Ghana.