Barcelona derby clash abandoned by ref as part of stadium collapses and police intervene

A fearsome derby in the lower leagues of Spanish football was called off long before full-time on Sunday.

Fourth-tier outfits CE Europa and UE Sant Andreu - who represent two of the most lively neighbourhoods in the city - have an infamous rivalry. Their latest clash delivered on the entertainment front, with seven goals in the first half and another after the break to put the visiting Sant Andreu 5-3 ahead.

By that point, the contest had already seen a number of controversies rev up supporters from both sides. When Europa made it 2-2, captain Jordi Cano gestured to the travelling fans, who pelted him with objects.

Tensions were at boiling point when the referee stopped the match two minutes before half-time, as players were sent to the dressing room in the hope that both sets of supporters would calm down.

Sant Andreu skipper Albertito pleaded with his fans to simmer and the match continued. But it did not last long. In the 50th minute, Marc Jurado rounded the goalkeeper and put the visitors two ahead, sparking celebrations so vigorous a barrier separating spectators from the pitch , sending those standing behind it flying.

Police later explained that one fan had suffered a minor injury after being 'hit hard', according to Spanish news outlet .

After the barrier fell, match officials decided to abandon the match entirely due to security concerns. Sant Andreu fans then had to be escorted out of the stadium by police, who were reportedly targeted by Europa supporters on their way out.

Known as the 'Pla de Barcelona' derby, the two teams first met in the 1930s and have contested countless derbies in the decades since. Despite the long history, fans from both sides consider the rivalry to have truly started in 2007, and incidents between supporter groups have intensified in recent years.

Europa and Sant Andreu share similarities in their strong Catalan identity and former status as towns once separate from Barcelona, having both been annexed by the city in the 19th century.

Sant Andreu currently sit ninth in the table with 17 points from their first 10 matches, and they have at least one game in hand on many of the sides above them. Europa, meanwhile, are in sixth place.