An already strange game was turned into pure farce in Malaga on Thursday evening when it was abandoned after 49 minutes.

The game played behind-closed‎-doors at Charlton’s training complex was scheduled to be a 70 minute affair against Romanian top-flight outfit Gaz Metan however it was brought to a premature end following a disputed penalty award by local referee Raul Mateo.

Two of the Gaz Metan players laid their hands on the official leaving him little option but to show them the red card. The Romanians offered to substitute the offending players – something the Addicks were happy to accept – but the referee insisted on making it an 11 v 9 game.

As a training exercise, there would have been little value in the game, so the Romanian coaching staff led their players off, forcing the game’s abandonment.

Charlton had been leading 1-0 at the time, thanks to a 13th minute George Lapslie‎ goal.

The Addicks will be in action next at Welling on Saturday week (13 August).

Charlton: Phillips (Maynard-Brewer 36); Sarpong-Wiredu, Dijksteel, Pratley, Pearce (Lockyer 36), Page (Purrington 36); Morgan, Lapslie, Doughty (Sarr 36), Aneke (Solly 36); Taylor.

Goal: Lapslie 13.‎

Gaz Metan: Medias: Plesca, Cretu, Larie, Constantin, Cikarski, Droppa, Olaru, Rosu, Dragichi, Sanoh, Bus.

Subs: Batista, Pleasca, Capra, Avram, R Popa, A Popa, Jica, Velisar, Trif, Fofana, Ciocan, Romeo, Ely, Fofana, Romeo, Ely, Chamed, Nicula, Costea.

Sent off: ‎Cretu 47, Constantin 47

Referee: Raul Mateo‎ (Spain).

Image – The Mirror