Express & Star

Aston Villa's Jonathan Kodjia flees invasion

As striker Jonathan Kodjia was forced to run for safety after mass pitch invasion in Paris.

Published

Kodjia was an unused substitute for the Ivory Coast in their match against Senegal in the Stade Charlety when a group of supporters raced on to the pitch, forcing the game to be abandoned after 88 minutes with the score at 1-1.

Kodjia and other players ran from the pitch as supporters began climbing over barriers to race on to the pitch, with Senegal defender Lamine Gassama being rugby tackled by one invader.

As more fans left the stands the referee Tony Chapron was left with no option but to abandon the match, with both sets of players and staff hurrying down the tunnel.