Hooligans smash up and TORCH ref’s car while he drives home from match after fans invade pitch to protest his decisions

TOP-FLIGHT referee Sabrija Topalovic has escaped with his life after angry fans torched his car as he drove home from a game. Topalovic took charge of Velez Mostar’s Bosnian Premier League clash with Borac Banja Luka on Tuesday night. Home fans invaded the pitch during Mostar’s 2-0 defeat to protest the official’s decisions. And matters […]

TOP-FLIGHT referee Sabrija Topalovic has escaped with his life after angry fans torched his car as he drove home from a game.

Topalovic took charge of Velez Mostar’s Bosnian Premier League clash with Borac Banja Luka on Tuesday night.

Home fans invaded the pitch during Mostar’s 2-0 defeat to protest the official’s decisions.

And matters reportedly got out of hand as Topalovic drove back to Sarajevo with his two assistants.

A car containing four men blocked the officials’ vehicle in a road tunnel.

Local media said the thugs began smashing up Topalovic’s car before hurling a blazing torch through the window.

The trio fled as the Mercedes estate burst into flames. One assistant needed hospital treatment, and the car was left a charred wreck.

A Mostar police spokesman said: “The three men first damaged the officials’ car, then threw a flaming torch into it.

“One person was injured, and taken to hospital at Jablanica.

“We are still looking for the suspects.”

Mostar are longstanding members of the turbulent world of Balkans football.

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They beat Northern Ireland’s Coleraine 4-2 on aggregate in the UEFA Conference League in July.

The Bosnians famously beat Derby County 5-4 in the UEFA Cup in the 1974-75 season.

They lost 4-2 to Hearts in the same competition in 1988-89.