Soccer-Atletico match halted after crowd problems

MADRID, Mar 24 (Reuters) The Primera Liga match between Atletico Madrid and Sevilla was halted for 40 minutes on Thursday after objects were thrown on to the pitch by fans at the Vicente Calderon.

Referee Miguel Angel Ayza Gamez stopped the game 14 minutes from time when his attention was drawn to a glass whisky bottle that had landed on the pitch. Atletico had a player sent off and Sevilla had taken the lead shortly before.

Sevilla goalkeeper Andres Palop complained that he had been hit by objects thrown by a group of fans at one end of the stadium.

Atletico players and officials tried to convince the referee to continue the game, but he refused and after a delay the two teams were led off the pitch.

Most of the crowd left the stadium but the game was eventually restarted some 40 minutes later well after midnight local time.

Less than a minute after the restart Atletico were reduced to nine men when Martin Petrov was sent off for a second booking.

Earlier this season a King's Cup tie between Valencia and Deportivo Coruna was halted after a coin hit a linesman.

Reuters DH VP0525