Greece and Georgia’s Euro 2024 qualifier descends into anarchy with mass melee

Georgia and Greece’s Euro 2024 qualifying match erupted into mayhem with a half-time brawl.

The red mist descended as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Petros Mantalos squared up to each other, with the latter having been very hands-on in a challenge.

Soon dozens and players and coaches were involved in the scuffle and Georgia’s substitute goalkeeper Giorgi Loria – their most-capped player ever – was sent off alongside a member of Greece’s backroom team.

Kvaratskhelia had previously received treatment for a facial injury after battling for the ball with Kostas Tsimikas.

The game was finely poised at 0-0 when the scrap broke out but Georgia went on to win 4-2 on penalties, reaching their first-ever major tournament.

Greece did not make it to the last couple of European Championships and will be devastated to miss out again.

Their star man, Kvaratskhelia, has been on the radar of Europe’s big clubs after his stunning development at Napoli.

Last year he helped them to their first Serie A title and the Champions League quarter-finals with 17 goals and 14 assists.

He is having a more muted campaign this time around, in line with Napoli’s drop off in quality, but has still scroed 10 goals and created another six.

Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Newcastle have all been linked with him to some extent, from the ‘keeping tabs on him’ level to launching bids.

Newcastle reportedly had a £82million swoop for him spurned last summer, with Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis driving a hard bargain.

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