Fan in Spain still manages to rush pitch even with no fans in attendance

Jun 15, 2020, 4:26 PM

BY HABOOB BLOG

Arizona Sports

A supporter, left, invades the pitch and attempts to take a selfie with FC Barcelona's Jordi Alba during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Mallorca and FC Barcelona at Son Moix Stadium in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Saturday, June 13, 2020. With virtual crowds, daily matches and lots of testing for the coronavirus, soccer is coming back to Spain. The Spanish league resumes this week more than three months after it was suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Francisco Ubilla)

A supporter invades the pitch with FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi behind left during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Mallorca and FC Barcelona at Son Moix Stadium in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Saturday, June 13, 2020. With virtual crowds, daily matches and lots of testing for the coronavirus, soccer is coming back to Spain. The Spanish league resumes this week more than three months after it was suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Francisco Ubilla)

A supporter invades the pitch during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Mallorca and FC Barcelona at Son Moix Stadium in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Saturday, June 13, 2020. With virtual crowds, daily matches and lots of testing for the coronavirus, soccer is coming back to Spain. The Spanish league resumes this week more than three months after it was suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Francisco Ubilla)

A supporter invades the pitch, center, next to Mallorca's Kubo, left, during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Mallorca and FC Barcelona at Son Moix Stadium in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Saturday, June 13, 2020. With virtual crowds, daily matches and lots of testing for the coronavirus, soccer is coming back to Spain. The Spanish league resumes this week more than three months after it was suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Francisco Ubilla)

A supporter, center, invades the pitch, center, during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Mallorca and FC Barcelona at Son Moix Stadium in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Saturday, June 13, 2020. With virtual crowds, daily matches and lots of testing for the coronavirus, soccer is coming back to Spain. The Spanish league resumes this week more than three months after it was suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Francisco Ubilla)

Now this is how you take a timeless craft to the next level.

As long as fans still attend sporting events, we will always see one inevitably run onto the field, court, pitch or whatever it is.

Strategies vary. Most of the time, with alcohol of course being involved, there isn’t one.

Some want to go say hi to their favorite player. Some want to see how long they can bob and weave security guards, usually to the amusement of the crowd.

But have we ever seen a fan hop a barrier without any fans in the building at all?

Well, now we have.

Over the weekend, Barcelona FC returned to league action after a three-month break due to the coronavirus. They played against RCD Mallorca on the road, and as many soccer clubs have done, the hosts had thousands of cardboard cutouts of fans to simulate a live environment while they wait for the real thing.

So you can imagine the befuddlement of everyone when a fan invaded the pitch and went to take selfies with Barcelona left back Jordi Alba.

How did a fan get on the pitch when there is no fans allowed in the stadium!?!?!? 🤔😂 pic.twitter.com/XJwNphshtV

— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) June 13, 2020

The fan will have criminal charges filed against him.

The league said the fan, who was not wearing a mask or gloves when he entered the field early in the second half, disobeyed orders from security personnel and broke health safety laws in place because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The league condemned the fan’s actions and said they “constituted a crime.” It said such actions “jeopardize everyone’s health and the integrity of the competition.”

The fan told Spanish media his goal was to take a photo with Argentina star Lionel Messi, but he didn’t have time to do it before security officers arrived to take him off the field.

He said he entered the San Moix Stadium by jumping over a fence and then came down from the stands to the field.

The youngster said he was released by police after they noted his details and had him sign a document. He said they made him delete the photo taken with Alba.

The Associated Press contributed to this story

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