Violence engulfs Nations League as followers brawl and invade pitch in brutal scenes
Georgia thrashed Armenia 6-1 in their Nations League play-off match, but the result was overshadowed by ugly scenes after the full-time whistle, with supporters clashing on the pitch and in the stands
The Nations League play-off match between Georgia and Armenia descended into chaos as fights broke out among fans following the game.
The host team, Georgia, celebrated a 6-1 victory before tensions escalated post-match. The Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena in Tbilisi was overrun with hundreds of fans who stormed the pitch, bypassing security and leaping over barriers.
Police had to step in when objects started flying between the home and away supporters in the stands. Initially, it seemed like the fans were rushing onto the field to snap photos with the players and request their jerseys.
But this disorder could potentially result in sanctions for both the Georgian and Armenian football federations as a result of the ugly scenes.
Premier League referee Anthony Taylor officiated the match which saw Georgia triumph with a 9-1 aggregate win, securing their spot in the Nations League’s second tier.
Earlier this week, Georgia and Armenia, who share a border, announced their joint bid to host the under-20 World Cup in 2029.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who transferred from Napoli for around £59million earlier this year, scored Georgia’s sixth goal.
He joined team-mates Georges Mikautadze, Giorgi Chakvetadze and Otar Kiteishvilli in making it onto the scoresheet, reports the Mirror.
Armenia, managed by ex-Ajax boss John van’t Schip and finishing second in their Nations League group last autumn, will stay in the third tier.
After a 3-0 victory in Yerevan on Thursday, Georgia got off to an ideal start with an own goal in the fourth minute. Mikautadze extended their aggregate lead to 5-0 ten minutes later, followed by goals from Watford winger Chakvetadze and Kiteishvilli.
Mikautadze found the net again before half-time. Armenia managed to claw back a goal through Edgar Sevikyan early in the second half, but Kvaratskhelia soon added to Georgia’s tally.
Georgia can now focus on World Cup qualifying, where they’ll face Turkey, Bulgaria and Spain. Armenia will take on the Republic of Ireland, Hungary and Portugal.
In other play-off matches to reach League B, Slovenia held off Slovakia and the Republic of Ireland defeated Bulgaria. Kosovo was the only team to secure promotion, thrashing Iceland 5-2 on aggregate.
In League A, Scotland were relegated by Greece, squandering their first-leg advantage. Also dropping to the second tier of the Nations League are Hungary, who suffered a 6-1 aggregate defeat to Turkey.
Austria joined them in relegation after a 2-0 loss in Serbia, while Belgium were the only team to stave off relegation from the top tier, staging a second-leg comeback against Ukraine. The next Nations League campaign is set for the 2026-27 season.
