fans ran onto the pitch and started fighting with the players.

The match was taking place at Cedar Grove School in Southampton between Robin Hood and Young Trojans as part of the Coca-Cola/Kenny Thompson Soccer Classic.

The Royal Gazette understands that a shoving match started between a Robin Hood player and a Young Trojan player after a late tackle.

A Robin Hood spokesman described what followed as a "bench-clearing brawl'' as several Young Trojan players chased the Robin Hood player and tried to kick him.

Robin Hood players tried to stop them which led to supporters of the two teams also getting involved, the spokesman said.

Armel Thomas, one of the organisers of the event, said the game was abandoned and he escorted the Robin Hood players from the field to make sure nothing else happened.

But he said he could not comment further on what happened because he had been watching another game when the fight started.

He said the players involved in the melee would no longer be allowed to play in the tournament.