Basketballer hits court invader from behind

A basketball player has flattened a fan with a vicious hit from behind after the supporter ran onto the court and pushed one of his teammates during a Eurocup match between Banvit Bandirma and Buducnost in Montenegro.

Footage from the match shows a player from Turkish team Banvit miss a free throw when a man runs onto the court and pushes Banvit’s Sammy Mejia.

After watching the push, Banvit’s US-born Bulgarian star E.J. Rowland charges over and knocks the supporter off his feet with a swinging arm before trying to drag the fan away as opposition players and staff rush to the man’s aid.

Despite security intervening and taking the man away, the incident sparked a second melee off court, with footage showing Banvit’s Sammy Mejia escaping the clutches of a Buducnost player to run towards the fan as he was taken out of the arena.

Mejia was eventually restrained but not before another scuffle developed on the court.

Rowland and Mejia were both ejected from the game, with Buducnost also receiving four free throws when the game resumed.

Despite the penalties, Banvit won 74-68.