A youth football cup final was abandoned after being marred by a mass brawl on the pitch.
The match between Tynecastle FC and Portobello CFA 2006s was called off after players and supporters, including adults, became involved in a melee.
The incident came with seconds to go in the South East Region Cup Final in Dunbar, East Lothian, on Sunday.
It was sparked by a collision between the Tynecastle goalkeeper and a Portobello forward, who had to be hospitalised following the clash.
Onlookers described how violence erupted with people on the field “running around like crazed animals”.
Witnesses said that a player was struck during the “bedlam”.
Police said they were called to the scene at 6.20pm after reports of a “fight” breaking out.
The under-16s showpiece, which kicked off at 4.45pm, ended in “sickening scenes”, according to one witness.
He told how the Tynecastle goalkeeper collided with the Portobello striker leading to a “mass riot”.
The witness described how “players were punched to the floor” while spectators rushed onto the pitch “fighting like two gangs”.
He added: “I witnessed a player punched to the floor when the bedlam started.”
The witness said players had been “whipped up into a frenzy” ahead of kick-off, which was a “recipe for disaster”.
He added: “The atmosphere was extremely tense all afternoon.”
Portobello coach Scott Bonar told the Record: “The matter is in the hands of the police.
“With 45 seconds to go, we got a penalty. Our player was out cold then a Tynecastle player tried to punch one of our players.
“As I ran on to tend to our players, I tried to break up a lot of pushing.”
Scott said he went to help the injured player who was then kicked in the head while lying stricken.
He added: “His eyes had rolled to the back of his head and he was choking on his tongue after the kick.
“From there it was chaos.”
Scott said people were “trying to calm everyone down” with parents “trying to defuse it as adults were trying to hit our players”.
He added: “It was a horrific experience when I saw our player lifeless. I thought he was dead.
“Our players were in hysterics.”
The father of a Portobello player took to Twitter following the game. He said a “reckless challenge from their keeper knocked out our striker”.
He added: “As player was on deck out cold he got booted in the head. And chaos erupted.”
Asked about what would happen with the abandoned match, he later posted: “No idea. Thankfully no serious damage done. He’s home with a sore face and out for a number of weeks.”
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Officers were called to reports of a fight at a pitch on Kellie Road, Dunbar, at around 6.20pm on Sunday.
“One person was taken to hospital to be checked over. Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”
Allan Archibald, secretary for the South East Region, said: “I have no comment to make as it is now a police matter.”
A spokeswoman for the Scottish Youth FA said: “The SYFA is aware of incidents which occurred during the South East Regional Cup final.
“As the information is currently being investigated, we will not be commenting any further at this time.”
Tynecastle FC were contacted for comment but didn’t respond.
