The South African Football Players Union (SAFPU) have condemned an incident which took place during a fourth-tier match in the country as a person appeared to drive onto the pitch to apparently attack a referee.
As reported by The Citizen, the driver was an enraged supporter who, unhappy with a refereeing decision during an ABC Motsepe League match between Luka Ball Controllers and Polokwane City Rovers over the weekend, attempted to attack the official in his vehicle.
The video circulated on social media on Monday, and depicts a motorist speeding down the length of the field to catch up with the referee, who was able to avoid any collision.
"We as [the] SAFPU are shocked to have witnessed such barbaric behavior," read a statement by the Union's Secretary General Nhlanhla Shabalala. "There is no place for it in football.
"We will be meeting in earnest with the South African Football Association to resolve."
It is claimed that the Ball Controllers supporter was enraged when Rovers scored their second goal to move 2-1 ahead in the match having initially fallen behind.
“Each time the game was set to restart he threatened to go on to the field again. It spoiled the game because be kept trying to drive the car towards the City Rovers bench,” said a source at the stadium.
“He wanted to hit the referee, that is who he was targeting.He turned his attention to the Rover bench in frustration because the referee made his way off the field as he feared he would be run over by the fan.”