The match, between Vittoria and Paterno, in the regional fifth tier of Italian football, have both been handed a 3-0 defeat for the game, which was later abandoned when too many players were dismissed.

But it was only at half-time when the game descended into madness, with a brawl erupting, for no recognisable reason, in the tunnel.

After a fiery first half some players headed straight inside but then returned as tempers flared. What started as nothing more than a bit of handbags quickly turned into a full-scale fight, with punches and kicks thrown.

One Paterno player, Enzo Tornatore, was left on the floor and trampled, requiring a hospital visit, along with a member of his team's backroom staff.

The scene eventually calmed down and four players were dismissed for their roles, but once the second half kicked off the bad tempers returned and the game was abandoned because there were not enough players left on the pitch.

Vittoria have borne the brunt of the punishments, with players banned for between three and eight matches, while Paterno players have also been handed suspensions of between three and four games.

The bans totalled 59 games for the 13 players involved.

(dailymail.co.uk)