Spanish ref orders rival player hug after Olympique de Lyon-Besiktas Europa League match mayhem

THE Spanish referee at the Europa League match between Turkish team Besiktas and French side Olympique de Lyon had an unusual but heart-warming solution for the pandemonium caused by rival fans causing a riot and disrupting the match.

Besiktas fans hurled firecrackers at Lyon supporters, who had to rush onto the pitch to escape and ended up wrecking the game.

The match at Lyon's Parc Olympique was delayed for a further hour until the chaos was over and the dust had settled.

Referee Mateu Lahoz decided the players should set an example as to 'what football was all about' and the healthy competition it should be.

So he ordered Besiktas and Olympique players to shake hands and hug each other in the centre of the pitch in full view of the public

Photos and videos of the rival footballers embracing each other have gone viral on social networks, putting violent fans to shame.