Fans mock linesman for running on the pitch during Portugal’s dramatic win over Slovenia… as footage shows him sprinting on the wing before Benjamin Sesko’s crucial one-on-one miss

Football fans have mocked the linesman in Portugal’s Euro 2024 win over Slovenia on Monday after footage emerged of him running on the pitch during his duties. 

A highly eventful evening at the Frankfurt Arena saw Portugal eventually advance to the quarter-finals of the competition via a penalty shootout.

Cristiano Ronaldo was left in tears as his penalty miss deep in extra time risked Portugal being knocked out the European Championship before he made amends in the shootout.

The 39-year-old was the centre of attention after the match as his sadness turned to triumph, but eagle-eyed fans have now spotted a bizarre incident where the linesman encroached on the pitch.

Officials running down the line are meant to keep off the playing surface at all times unless a situation occurs where they need to come on and speak to the referee.

The linesman encroached on the pitch during a late moment in extra time at the Frankfurt Arena

However, the eager linesman appeared to lose track of where he was when bursting down the wing as Benjamin Sesko spurned an opportunity to win the match for Slovenia with minutes remaining in extra time.

As Sesko pounced on Pepe’s heavy touch, the linesman sprinted down the side-line in an effort to keep level with the striker who was through on goal.

He then ended up finding himself on the pitch down as play continued and was seen standing on the wrong side of the dead-ball line as Diogo Carlos produced a magical save to deny Sesko.

The linesman ran on the wing as Slovenia’s Benjamin Sesko (left) burst through on goal before being denied

Fans have now hilariously commented on the linesman’s bizarre intervention, with one social media post stating: ‘Linesman is literally walking on the pitch, wtf.’

Another post shared a mock heatmap of the official with the right-wing alongside the caption: ‘Heatmap of the linesman in that second half.’

Others joined in with the joke as Paddy Power’s post on X added: ‘The linesman thinks he’s playing.’

‘Anyone else keep seeing the linesman keep running on the pitch,’ said another onlooker.