Scots youth football cup final abandoned with seconds to go after mass brawl on pitch

A youth football cup final was abandoned after being marred by a mass brawl on the pitch.

The match between Tynecastle FC and Portobello CFA 2006s was called off after players and supporters, including adults, became involved in a melee.

The incident came with seconds to go in the South East Region Cup Final in Dunbar, East Lothian, on Sunday.

It was sparked by a collision between the Tynecastle goalkeeper and a Portobello forward, who had to be hospitalised following the clash.

Onlookers described how violence erupted with people on the field “running around like crazed animals”.

Witnesses said that a player was struck during the “bedlam”.

Police said they were called to the scene at 6.20pm after reports of a “fight” breaking out.

The under-16s showpiece, which kicked off at 4.45pm, ended in “sickening scenes”, according to one witness.

He told how the Tynecastle goalkeeper collided with the Portobello striker leading to a “mass riot”.

The witness described how “players were punched to the floor” while spectators rushed onto the pitch “fighting like two gangs”.

He added: “I witnessed a player punched to the floor when the bedlam started.”

The witness said players had been “whipped up into a frenzy” ahead of kick-off, which was a “recipe for disaster”.

He added: “The atmosphere was extremely tense all afternoon.”

Portobello coach Scott Bonar told the Record: “The matter is in the hands of the police.

“With 45 seconds to go, we got a penalty. Our player was out cold then a Tynecastle player tried to punch one of our players.

“As I ran on to tend to our players, I tried to break up a lot of pushing.”

Scott said he went to help the injured player who was then kicked in the head while lying stricken.

He added: “His eyes