Petkovic was in goal for Sivasspor’s opening game of the Turkish Superlig season against Trabzonspor when their Egyptian-born defender Ayman Abdelaziz hacked down Israeli national Pini Balili.



"It seems he has a problem with the fact that I am an Israeli and a Jew,” said Balili later. “He told me even before the incident that he would finish my career,"

A freekick was awarded for the foul – but while scuffles continued between the players, a lone fan ran onto the pitch and kinghit Sivasspor striker Mehmet Yildiz in the face.

As some Sivasspor players tried to restrain him, others tried to land hits on him, including at least one kick from a player on the fan.

The reaction sparked a pitch invasion from rival fans, causing mayhem on the field. Armed guards rushed to try to halt the violence.

Petko could only watch the horror unfold at the other end of the field as officials desperately tried to regain control. The match – which Trabzonspor were winning 1-0 – was finally abandoned without any further play.

Balili added: “He wasn't looking for the ball — he was looking for my leg.

"Between Arabs and Jews, what's happening isn't new. Every game I've played against him, he has a kind of war against me. But again, this is soccer, that's how it is."

But Abdelaziz inisisted: "It wasn't a deliberate action. It was a normal foul and the referee punished me with a yellow card."