Anti-Putin protest interrupts England's World Cup final clash as pitch invader wearing 'Stop Putler' t-shirt is rugby-tackled to the ground... by stewards wearing football boots!
247-Sports-HD
2023-08-20
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England's World Cup final with Spain was disrupted after an anti-Putin pitch invader wearing a 'Stop Putler' t-shirt was rugby tackled to the ground by stewards wearing football boots.
The much-anticipated final in Sydney was briefly halted in the 24th minute as security rushed onto the pitch at Stadium Australia to escort the anti-war protester away.
The intruder, who was also wearing a face mask, ran across the pitch with his arms high in the air as he made a political protest against Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin - who launched an illegal invasion of Ukraine back in February 2022.
The pitch invader was wearing a t-shirt that said 'Stop Putler' on the front as he compared the Russian despot to Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler. It also featured an image of Putin depicted as Hitler with a photoshopped hairline and a small mustache.
On the back of the intruder's t-shirt, it said 'Free Ukraine' and featured the invaded country's national flag.
The protest comes five years after Russian punk group Pussy Riot stormed the Men's World Cup final in Moscow. Four members of the group - who are vocal critics of Putin - halted play before they were rounded up and dragged away in front of the Russian president who was watching from a box.
The 'Putler' term, coined by anti-fascists, rose in popularity after the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014.
Footage from the stands showed that the protester was in touching distance of England star Lauren Hemp before being tackled to the ground by efficient security.
There was a short delay as England waited to take a free-kick but the game got back underway soon after.
Minutes after the pitch invasion took place, the Lionesses went a goal down to Spain in a major blow to their quest for World Cup glory. Despite Mary Earps saving a second-half penalty, England was unable to find an equalizer as Spain was crowned world champions for the first time.
The BBC's commentary team said that the pitch invader was 'dealt with swiftly', adding: 'They know their rugby round this part of the world, and that was a pretty decent tackle.'
It's understood that the stewards were wearing studded football boots to help with grip in the event of a pitch invasion - and it appeared to work. The man who intruded was wearing normal trainers.
The political protest comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed a stern retaliation to the Russian missile strike in the center of the northern city of Chernihiv that killed seven people and wounded more than 100 others.
'I am sure our soldiers will respond to Russia for this terrorist attack. Respond tangibly,' Mr. Zelensky said in a video address published in the early hours of Sunday at the end of a visit to Sweden, his first foreign trip since attending a Nato summit in Lithuania last month.
He named a six-year-old girl, Sofia, as among the dead in the attack and confirmed that the wounded included 15 children.
The much-anticipated final in Sydney was briefly halted in the 24th minute as security rushed onto the pitch at Stadium Australia to escort the anti-war protester away.
The intruder, who was also wearing a face mask, ran across the pitch with his arms high in the air as he made a political protest against Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin - who launched an illegal invasion of Ukraine back in February 2022.
The pitch invader was wearing a t-shirt that said 'Stop Putler' on the front as he compared the Russian despot to Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler. It also featured an image of Putin depicted as Hitler with a photoshopped hairline and a small mustache.
On the back of the intruder's t-shirt, it said 'Free Ukraine' and featured the invaded country's national flag.
The protest comes five years after Russian punk group Pussy Riot stormed the Men's World Cup final in Moscow. Four members of the group - who are vocal critics of Putin - halted play before they were rounded up and dragged away in front of the Russian president who was watching from a box.
The 'Putler' term, coined by anti-fascists, rose in popularity after the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014.
Footage from the stands showed that the protester was in touching distance of England star Lauren Hemp before being tackled to the ground by efficient security.
There was a short delay as England waited to take a free-kick but the game got back underway soon after.
Minutes after the pitch invasion took place, the Lionesses went a goal down to Spain in a major blow to their quest for World Cup glory. Despite Mary Earps saving a second-half penalty, England was unable to find an equalizer as Spain was crowned world champions for the first time.
The BBC's commentary team said that the pitch invader was 'dealt with swiftly', adding: 'They know their rugby round this part of the world, and that was a pretty decent tackle.'
It's understood that the stewards were wearing studded football boots to help with grip in the event of a pitch invasion - and it appeared to work. The man who intruded was wearing normal trainers.
The political protest comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed a stern retaliation to the Russian missile strike in the center of the northern city of Chernihiv that killed seven people and wounded more than 100 others.
'I am sure our soldiers will respond to Russia for this terrorist attack. Respond tangibly,' Mr. Zelensky said in a video address published in the early hours of Sunday at the end of a visit to Sweden, his first foreign trip since attending a Nato summit in Lithuania last month.
He named a six-year-old girl, Sofia, as among the dead in the attack and confirmed that the wounded included 15 children.
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