Nations League: Match Ends in Brawl; Military Steps In

Wild West-style scenes broke out at the end of the CONCACAF Nations League match between Guatemala and Suriname: after the referee blew the final whistle, players from both teams and staff members clashed on the field, requiring the military police to intervene. It took several minutes to restore order on the field.

It all started in the 63rd minute, when Richonell Margaret of Suriname got into an argument with a fan in the stands. The referee showed the Go Ahead Eagles player a red card, prompting vehement protests from the Surinamese side. In the remaining half-hour of play, there were many rough challenges, and the referee struggled to maintain control of the match.

In stoppage time, Guatemala took the lead thanks to a goal by young Matthew Evans, and when the final whistle blew, chaos ensued: players from both teams shoved one another, then staff members entered the field, and the situation escalated.

Security personnel were unable to handle the situation, and military police entered the field in riot gear to restore order. Despite the deployment of officers, it took quite some time to calm everyone down and convince the players to head to the locker rooms.