Snowballs have replaced paper planes. It was an unusual scene which marked the 5th day of the Europa Conference League group stage, between Helsinki and Aberdeen. This wintry Thursday evening, below -3 degrees, while large snowflakes fell on the capital of Finland, Scottish supporters began throwing snowballs onto the pitch, deliberately targeting the Helsinki goalkeeper.
At the start of the second half, in the 54th minute, Niki Mäenpää in his team’s goal was unable to clear the ball calmly.
HJK Helsinki-Aberdeen briefly stopped because some Aberdeen fans behind the goal are throwing snowballs at the HJK goalkeeper.
Man over the tannoy says it could be abandoned if it continues! pic.twitter.com/obwqBZ23vd
— Archie Rhind-Tutt (@archiert1) November 30, 2023
The referee then briefly interrupted the match. A message from the stadium announcer asked supporters to stop their activity.
Twenty minutes later, with snow still falling heavily, the players were sent back to the locker room so that a snowplow could clear the field. It then traveled across the lawn at high speed.
The game was finally able to resume and come to an end. It ended with a score of 2-2. HJK led 2-0 after 33 minutes, but the Aberdeen players responded to give their teasing fans something to celebrate. Aberdeen equalized in the 56th minute, two minutes after the snowballs were thrown…
The two teams were already eliminated from the qualification race, ahead of Salonika and Frankfurt.
