A football match between Olympic Safi and USM Alger was delayed by about 80 minutes late Sunday after crowd disturbances led to a pitch invasion at the El Massira Stadium, according to Hespress AR local sources.
The incident occurred moments before kickoff when several visiting supporters entered the field, prompting officials to suspend the start of the match. Sources said the disruption stemmed from an altercation involving a ball boy who attempted to remove a banner placed by Algerian fans along the stadium fencing.
The move triggered a strong reaction from sections of the visiting supporters, leading to confrontations and eventually the pitch invasion, which forced authorities to delay the game while restoring order.
Sources inside the stadium said the atmosphere had been calm prior to the incident, with no reported tensions between supporters before the isolated event escalated.
A security source said police detained an Algerian supporter who was allegedly in an advanced state of intoxication after entering the pitch, as well as a minor from the local crowd for similar behavior.
Authorities said no serious injuries were recorded, contradicting reports circulating on some social media platforms. Emergency services treated three people for minor injuries at a hospital before releasing them shortly afterward.
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