Club Brugge and Cercle Brugge players were involved in a shoving match on Sunday
Club Brugge midfielder Ardon Jashari
Club Brugge midfielder Ardon Jashari(Image: Getty Images)
Aston Villa’s Champions League round of 16 opponents Club Brugge were involved in a mass brawl on Sunday as tensions flared in their derby with Cercle Brugge.
Brugge defeated their city neighbours 3-1 at Jan Breydel Stadium, which is the ground both teams share.
Nicky Hayen’s side were 3-0 up by half-time after Hans Vanaken opened the scoring in the 26th minute, before Ferran Jutgla bagged a brace inside two minutes.
But after full-time, Brugge midfielder Ardon Jashari rubbed the defeat in the noses of the ‘home fans’.
He was seen running back onto the field with a blue and black flag and planted it in the centre-circle.
Cercle players were understandably furious with Jashari as goalkeeper Maxime Delanghe booted the flag out of the ground before carrying it away.
A mass brawl ensued as a result of Jashiri’s best attempts of reenacting Graeme Souness’ famous flag-planting antics when manager of Galatasaray in 1996.
The Liverpool legend planted a flag in the middle of the pitch after a 3-0 win over Fenerbahce in the Turkish Cup in 1996.
Belgian publication HLN alleged that there was another 'sad incident' as Brugge left-back Maxim De Cupyer was spat on by Cercle fans and had drink thrown in his direction when leaving the stadium.
Brugge will now prepare for their second leg with Villa in the Champions League after losing 3-1 at home last Tuesday.
What is your Villa vs Brugge prediction? Tell us here