There was “chaos” in the Croatian city of Split on Thursday evening after home team Hajduk were eliminated from the Europa League in what has been described as the “biggest embarrassment” in the club’s football history.

Gzira came back from a 2-0 defeat in Malta and a goal down early in the game to score three goals in the second half and qualify for the next round of the competition.

Total Croatia News reported that the 18,000 fans inside the stadium did not take the elimination quietly. “Hajduk fan group Torcida charged the pitch after the game and chased after Hajduk players before the police intervened,” the report said. “An incident in the West Stands also broke out, and dozens of seats were pulled from the North Stands and thrown onto the pitch. It was bound to be an ugly night in Split.” 

The report on Total Croatia News can be found here

The atmosphere was completely different in Malta, with Gzira players and officials given a warm welcome on their return from Croatia.

Photos: Gzira Facebook page