Charlton’s first pre-season friendly ABANDONED after referee manhandled by two opposition players

Charlton’s preparations for the 2019/20 campaign didn’t exactly get off to the best start as their first pre-season game was abandoned after 49 minutes.

The Addicks, who will be playing in the Championship next season after winning the League One play-offs, were facing Romanian side Gaz Metan Mediaș in Spain in what was supposed to be a 70-minute friendly.

It looked like being a worthwhile outing for Lee Bowyer’s side as they led 1-0 at half-time through George Lapslie’s goal, with their players getting some much-needed fitness in the bank.

Shortly after the half-time break Charlton looked set to double their lead as they were awarded a penalty in what had seemed a pretty uneventful match up until that point.

But the spot-kicked sparked some ‘distasteful scenes’, according to Charlton’s official match report, which revealed the referee was manhandled by two of the Romanian side’s players over his decision.

Valentin Cretu and Marius Constantin were both said to have laid their hands on the referee, Raul Mateo, who had no hesitation in producing a red card for both men.

Head coach Edward Iordanescu was said to be outraged by the decision and duly made the call to withdraw his team and head home.

CHARLTON'S OFFICIAL MATCH REPORT

Charlton’s first pre-season game descended into farce on Thursday evening with the match abandoned in the 49th minute following the dismissal of two Gaz Metan Mediaș players, with the Addicks leading 1-0.

The match was due to be a 70-minute affair, but it fell 21 minutes short when Lyle Taylor was brought down in the box, leading to disgraceful scenes which included two players from the Romanian top-flight side man-handling the referee early in the second half.

Unhappy at the decision, the visiting staff urged the referee to let them simply sub the offending players off, something which the Addicks were happy to agree with, but the referee insisted in playing to the letter of the law, resulting in Medias withdrawing their players and the match being abandoned.

Just nine minutes after the restart, Taylor was bundled for what was a contentious penalty. Outraged by the decision, Medias players Valentin Cretu and Marius Constantin both laid their hands on the referee in disgraceful fashion, leading to extremely distasteful scenes in what was supposed to be a ‘friendly’ match.

The referee, Raul Mateo, had no hesitation in producing the red card to both players, which effectively ended the game, with furious Head Coach Edward Iordanescu making the call to withdraw his players and head home.

Charlton didn’t seem too fussed by their opponents well and truly throwing their toys out of the pram, with striker Lyle Taylor taking the penalty anyway – against his own goalkeeper.

As expected of last season’s top scorer, Taylor expertly fired the spot-kick into the back of the net. We’re not sure if that counts as a 2-0 win but no doubt they will claim it!

Bowyer will be hoping there is no repeat drama when he takes his side to Welling United a week on Saturday on their return to England.

The south London club kick off their Championship campaign with a trip to Blackburn Rovers on August 3.

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