Football

Fiery scenes at end of Palace vs Brighton clash

September 28, 2021 10:02 am

[Source: BBC]

Brighton players and Crystal Palace fans goaded each other near the tunnel following a dramatic and fiery end to their Premier League draw at Selhurst Park.

Seagulls striker Neal Maupay scored a 95th-minute equaliser, cancelling out Wilfried Zaha’s penalty, before being involved in a heated confrontation with Zaha as the game restarted.

Both sets of players then got in an argument as the final whistle went.

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Afterwards, Brighton players heading down the tunnel had to run a gauntlet of home supporters, with a group of fans taunting the visitors – and getting the same back from some Albion players.

Brighton supporters broke through the advertising hoardings to celebrate their equaliser and a blue flare was thrown onto the pitch.

“With the goal going in at that time there’s emotion and passion, which you’d expect,” said Seagulls manager Graham Potter, who hung back as the exchanges took place before heading down the tunnel. “There wasn’t a massive amount of security there and it’s a little bit intimidating. Everyone is OK.”

Maupay, who celebrated by cupping his ears in front of the Palace fans, clashed with Zaha on the halfway line as Palace were ready to take the kick-off.

“Football is nothing without fans and some involvement with players,” said Maupay. “The atmosphere was really tough and when I scored, I looked at Zaha and smiled at him because when he scored his penalty he celebrated and he gave some to our fans.

“I won’t say what he said and what I said but you know how it is on the pitch with players sometimes. You give banter on the pitch sometimes and it was the perfect time to give him something.”