While Nabil Fekir had just equalized 1-1 from a direct corner (39th), Sevilla FC midfielder Joan Jordan was hit in the head by a plastic bar thrown from the stands under the eyes of the referee, who decided to interrupt the meeting for long minutes, before stopping it definitively.

The joy of French midfielder from Bétis Sevilla, Nabil Fékir, after having equalized (1-1) on a direct corner against Sevilla FC, during the derby against Bétis, in the round of 16 first leg of the King's Cup, on 15 January 2022 CRISTINA QUICLER AFP

"Official: the round of 16 of the King's Cup between Betis Sevilla and Sevilla FC is suspended. The RFEF condemns any act of violence on the playing fields," wrote the Spanish federation, organizer of the competition, on Twitter.

The incident happened shortly before half-time, as the players started heading towards the central circle after celebrating Fekir's goal at the Benito-Villamarin stadium (that of Betis Sevilla).

Joan Jordan received treatment on the lawn, but was able to get up without worry and did not appear to be seriously affected.

According to television footage, referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoechea picked up the bar, which appeared to be made of plastic, dropped it on the sidelines and began chatting with stadium officials.

Three Options

After about ten minutes, the players of Sevilla FC headed for the locker room and those of Betis waited on the lawn for the decision of the referee, who finally recorded the stoppage of the match, almost 45 minutes later.

The players of Betis Sevilla leave the field, after the final stoppage of the derby against Betis, in the round of 16 first leg of the Hard King Cup, following a projectile thrown at the Argentinian midfielder of FC Sevilla, Joan Jordan, January 15, 2022 CRISTINA QUICLER AFP

"The match is suspended due to serious incidents from the public. The competitions committee (responsible for programming matches in normal times, editor's note) will decide on the day and time of the rescheduling," said the RFEF.

According to the Spanish press, the three options are now: play the match behind closed doors, play the match by closing part of the stands, or play the match in another stadium.

The elimination of Betis Sevilla is, a priori, not considered.

Four minutes before Fekir equalized, Argentinian Alejandro "Papu" Gomez had opened the scoring for Sevilla FC (35th).

The joy of Argentine midfielder Sevilla FC, Papu Gomez (2nd d), after opening the scoring, during the derby against Bétis, in the round of 16 first leg of the King's Cup, January 15, 2022 CRISTINA QUICLER AFP

In 2007, the Andalusian derby between Sevilla FC and Betis Sevilla was already halted after a bottle hit Sevilla FC coach Juande Ramos in the head, leaving him unconscious.

The rest of the match was played days later at the Alfonso Perez stadium in Getafe (south of Madrid).

© 2022 AFP