A top-flight match in Norway was abandoned after fans protesting against VAR forced the game to stop four times in just 30 minutes.
Rosenborg’s clash with Lillestrom descended into chaos as both sets of fans threw an array of items onto the pitch, including tennis balls, flares and even fishcakes.
The Eliteserien game had barely kicked off yesterday evening when dozens of tennis balls were launched onto the turf by supporters in the home end.
Officials were forced to take the players down the tunnel and into the dressing room after six minutes due to a new ruling.
After the game restarted, fans chanted ‘f****** hate VAR’ and hurled another flurry of balls and pyrotechnics from the stands, forcing the players off again with just 11 minutes on the clock.
They also unfurled a banner which read: ‘We will never give up – VAR will go away.’
An announcement then came over the tannoy warning fans at Lerkendal Stadion that the game would be abandoned if the protests continues.
Yet another barrage of tennis balls made their way onto the field of play in the 25th minute, causing a third stoppage.
When the players came back out, fans threw the balls on for a fourth time, prompting the referee to call off the match.
It was suspended after only half-an-hour with the score still goalless.
VAR was introduced in Norway’s top division last season but more than 70 supporters groups protested against the decision.
Fan unions have claimed the amount of time referees spend making decisions using the system ruins matches.
Sweden’s top league decided against introducing VAR in April after fans revolted against it.
The president of the Swedish FA, Fredrik Reinfeldt, told Aftonbladet more than half of the top 32 teams opposed VAR.
He said at the time: ‘If I counted correctly, we have 18 elite clubs and two districts that have said they do not want to introduce VAR. We respect that.
‘That’s why we didn’t bring forward any proposal about VAR to the previous board of representatives meeting and I don’t foresee it in the future either.
‘I stand by respecting the democratic rules of the game.’
Rosenborg BK confirmed the game was called off, while Lillestrom said that ‘work is now being done to find a new time for when the match will be played’.
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