VIDEO: AZ Goalkeeper Goes Karate Kid On Pitch Invader

There was plenty of excitement for today’s clash between Ajax and AZ Alkmaar, but it turned out to be only 36 minutes of a soccer match before the All Valley Karate Tournament broke out. That’s because a fan ran out on the field, not just to cause a commotion and get on TV, but to attack AZ goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado. Naturally, the keeper protected himself with three swift and powerful kicks that would have made Mr. Miyagi proud and just needed the right music to make it the perfect montage

Somehow, the referee determined that Alvarado should see red for striking the fan, even though it was clearly in self-defense. The man was running at him and he couldn’t just curl up in a ball and wish the danger away.

As you can see, after the attack AZ manager Gertjan Verbeek pulled his team off the field. He never sent them back out, claiming his team’s safety couldn’t be guaranteed and that was that. The match was over, at least for today. Now the Netherlands FA will have to decide what to do with this mess of a fixture.