More than 50 hurt in Israeli soccer crush

JERUSALEM, May 6 (Reuters) More than 50 soccer fans were injured, four of them seriously, in a crush as supporters invaded the pitch at the end of an Israeli Premier League soccer match today, medics said.

Ronen Beshari, a medic for rescue service Magen David Adom, said four people were in serious condition after being crushed by the crowd that pressed through a narrow gate to reach the pitch.

Fans went on to the pitch to celebrate after Beitar Jerusalem beat Hapoel Petah Tikva 2-0, taking the league leaders closer to the Premier League title.

''The crowd burst on to the field against all expected scenarios, and unfortunately there are injuries,'' Jerusalem police commander Ilan Franco said.

As Beitar Jerusalem were unable to clinch the title today, police were not prepared for the invasion and the premature celebrations. They had apparently deployed in relatively small numbers for a game when the stands were not filled to capacity.

More than two dozen ambulances rushed to the scene to take the injured to hospital, medics said.

Another 50 fans sustained lighter injuries, Beshari said.

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