Real Betis and Como FC players were involved in a mass brawl at the end of the first half of their pre-season clash in Cadiz.
A number of stars were involved in the shocking altercation in which punches were thrown after Betis’ Pablo Fornals and Como midfielder Maximo Perrone came to blows at the end of the first period.
The former West Ham star appeared to punch Perrone, with the Argentine then trying strike the 29-year-old.
Betis and Como players rushed over to intervene, before many of them also ended up in grappling matches of their own.
Amid a chaos, a moment of levity occurred when Betis striker Cucho Hernandez made contact with his team-mate Natan with a flying right hook after failing to land his blow on a Como star.
Despite landing the blow that sparked the unrest, Fornals remarkably avoided a red card, while Perrone and former Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin, whose increasingly animated protestations to the official landed him in hot water, were given their marching orders by the referee at the Estadio Municipal de La Linea de la Concepcion.
Real Betis and Como FC players were involved in a mass brawl at the end of the first half of their pre-season clash
A number of stars were involved in the shocking altercation in which punches were thrown after Betis’ Pablo Fornals and Como midfielder Maximo Perrone came to blows
Former Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin was one of two players shown a red card after his increasingly animated protestations to the official
Como led the clash 2-0 when the fighting broke out at half-time but Betis fought back to level the match at 2-2 before Ivan Azon’s stoppage-time winner ensured victory for Cesc Fabregas’ side.
Wednesday’s clash could have lasting consequences for both sides as they near the start of their domestic seasons.
The actions of the likes of Bellerin, Fournals and Cucho could result in suspension for the start of the new campaign. All three players are bonafide starters for Manuel Pellegrini, whose side take on newly promoted Elche on the opening matchday of the season.
