Herzog says he’ll belatedly award trophy to Beitar Jerusalem after fans rushed field

President Isaac Herzog says he will belatedly present the Beitar Jerusalem soccer team the State Cup at his official residence later today, after ecstatic fans disrupted the original ceremony and forced him off the field following the club’s victory.

Thousands of Beitar Jerusalem supporters charged the pitch after the team’s 3-0 win against Maccabi Netanya last night, before the trophy ceremony. Some participants burned the nets in the goals to take pieces as mementos and made off with medals intended for the players, according to Israeli public radio Kan.

Herzog, who was near the stage where Beitar players were to be given the trophy, was rushed off the field, surrounded by his security detail.

Herzog expresses dismay in a statement today, saying that fans “blew up the joyous occasion so that the trophy could not be awarded.”