Violence mars Cup night
Afp, Madrid
Violence marred the Spanish Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday as the second leg between Real Betis and city rivals Seville was suspended due to crowd violence after the latter's coach was hit by a bottle. Seville, held to a goalless draw in the first game, were leading thanks to a Frederic Kanoute goal when the referee called a halt to the game at Betis' Manuel Ruiz de Lopera Stadium. Kanoute had netted nine minutes into the second half to give the lead to Seville, league title hopefuls and the UEFA Cup holders. But moments later Seville coach Juande Ramos was carried unconscious from the dugout on a stretcher after someone threw a bottle at him from the stands. Adolfo Munoz of Seville's medical staff said Ramos would be kept in a Seville clinic overnight for observation. A Betis spokesman promised the club would do all it could to hunt down the person responsible and punish him. But Spanish media quoted Spanish Secretary of State for Sport Jaime Lissavetzky as saying he was appalled at what had happened and he would be asking for the toughest of responses. He added he had contacted the interior ministry and would be calling for Spain's anti-violence commission to hold an "emergency meeting" on Friday to discuss the incident. "We have to come down as hard as possible," he insisted, drawing a parallel with the recent hooligan problems which have afflicted Italy and saw midweek league matches played during the afternoon at the behest of police. Spanish matches traditionally are late-night affairs and in the context of a local Cup derby matters boiled over even before the match began. The website of sports newspaper AS also reported trouble outside the ground sparked by some 200-300 Seville supporters unable to gain entry. Spanish television showed dozens of supporters setting fire to dustbins in frustration, having strewn the large containers across an access road leading to the stadium. About half an hour after the incident referee Undiano Mallenco bowed to the inevitable and called off the match. In games that did finish, European champions Barcelona, resting star striker Samuel Eto'o, overturned a 1-0 first-leg deficit in the late match at Real Zaragoza with a 2-1 win for an away goals success courtesy of early goals from Xabi and Iniesta before Pique hit a consolation. Deportivo La Coruna drew 1-1 at Real Valladolid to advance 5-2 on aggregate to the semi-finals while Getafe also made it through despite a 1-0 loss to a Bernardo Romeo goal at Osasuna. Getafe won 3-1 on aggregate.
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