2007-06-02 23:41:49 -
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) - The European Championship qualifier between Sweden and Denmark was abandoned at 3-3 Saturday after a Danish fan tried to attack the referee for giving a late penalty.
Danish soccer officials initially said German referee Herbert Fandel had awarded Sweden a 3-0 win, but UEFA later said the result would have to
be confirmed by an investigation.
«No decision has been taken,» UEFA spokesman Fritz Ahlstrom said.
Denmark had rallied from 3-0 down to level at 3-3 before Fandel sent off Denmark defender Christian Poulsen in the 89th for punching Sweden striker Markus Rosenberg in the stomach.
After Fandel pointed to the penalty spot at Parken stadium, the spectator charged onto the pitch and tried to punch the referee, but was intercepted by Danish defender Michael Gravgaard.
Fandel and his linesmen walked off the field, and Danish soccer federation spokesman Lars Behrendt announced the referee had awarded Sweden the 3-0 victory shortly afterward.
However, UEFA later said the result would be confirmed following an investigation by its disciplinary committee. Danish police said the attacker had been arrested.
«It is a sad ending,» Denmark striker Jon Dahl Tomasson told Danish TV. «I can understand that the referee called off the game. This is going to cost us.»
Sweden had led 3-0 inside 26 minutes in the Group F match at Parken stadium after two goals by Johan Elmander and another from Peter Hansson.
But goals from Daniel Agger (34th), Tomasson (62nd) and substitute Leon Andreasen (77th) had set up Denmark's unlikely comeback in front of 42,083 fans before the abandonment.
Elmander scored in the seventh minute after Gravgaard failed to clear a high ball into the box.
Hansson doubled the lead from a powerful free kick, before Elmander made it 3-0 with a backheel on Christian Wilhemsson's low cross.
Agger started the comeback by shooting inside Sweden goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson's right post. Tomasson then capitalized on sloppy Swedish defending as he curled his shot over Isaksson.
The Danes heaped on the pressure and Andreasen equalized on low shot from outside the box.
If UEFA confirms the result, Sweden leads the group with 15 points from six games, two more than idle Northern Ireland. Denmark is fourth with seven points from five games.
«The match was a bit too entertaining and got a terribly bad ending,» Sweden coach Lars Lagerback said.
The Danish soccer federation (DBU) deplored the attack that ended the match.
«The game will have huge consequences for Danish soccer,» Behrendt said. «Denmark is far from a spot in next year's European Championship, and DBU will hit by economic sanctions.»
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Lineups:
Denmark: Thomas Soerensen, Christian Poulsen, Michael Gravgaard, Daniel Agger, Jan Kristiansen (Leon Andreasen, 35), Daniel Jensen (Jesper Gronkjaer, 63), Lars Jacobsen, Thomas Kahlenberg (Nicklas Bendtner, 47), Jon Dahl Tomasson, Martin Jorgensen, Dennis Rommedahl.
Sweden: Andreas Isaksson, Mikael Nilsson, Olof Mellberg, Petter Hansson, Niclas Alexandersson, Tobias Linderoth, Christian Wilhelmsson, Anders Svensson, Fredrik Ljungberg, Marcus Allback (Kennedy Bakircioglu, 80), Johan Elmander (Markus Rosenberg, 73).
