Appeal backfires for pitch invader

A DANISH pitch invader who took his case to an appeals court walked out with his punishment more than doubled.

The appeals court ordered Ronnie Noervig to pay the country’s football federation nearly 1.9 million kroner (£210,000) in damages for trying to attack the referee during a Euro 2008 qualifier between Denmark and Sweden in 2007. Noervig had appealed a lower court ruling imposing damages of 900,000 kroner saying he couldn’t afford to pay them. But instead of lowering the amount, the Eastern High Court more than doubled it after the Danish federation raised its claims. Noervig stormed the field in Copenhagen on 2 June, 2007, and tried to punch German referee Herbert after he awarded a penalty to Sweden in the game and showed a red card to Christian Paulsen.

Danish player Michael Gravgaard helped restrain Noervig before police and stewards removed him from the pitch. The match was abandoned with the scoreline at 3-3, and Sweden were later awarded a 3-0 win by Uefa.

Noervig has said he was drunk and called the incident a “moment of idiocy”.