Fan punched to ground by security guard after storming pitch to cover World Cup trophy with a hat

Pitch invasion: 'Jimmy Jump' bursts on to the grass and attempts to throw a hat over the World Cup trophy

Lightning reaction: A security guard runs on to the pitch to stop Jaume Marquet Cot

Security alert: Jump is punched to the ground by a security guard

A serial pitch invader was punched to the ground by a security guard as he stormed the Soccer City ground and threw a hat over the solid gold World Cup trophy before last night's final.

Notorious Barcelona fan Jaume Marquet Cot - known as 'Jimmy Jump' - fell to the floor after being knocked out with one hit as he ran across the grass to the ceremonial stand 10 metres from the team dug-outs.


Game over: Marquet Cot is held on the ground by security officials

Shock: Officials and football fans look astonished as Marquet Cot lies on the floor.Floored: The pitch invader falls to the ground after being hit by a security guard

Facing jail: Jump is carried from the Soccer City grounds and is charged by police

The joker, who is in his mid-30s, sprinted across the turf wearing a black T-shirt with writing that said 'Jimmy Jump against racism' while holding his trademark red Catalan hat.
After being punched to the ground, he was carried down the tunnel by seven stewards, past astonished players and officials who were lining up ready to take to the field.

As a result of the pre-match stunt, the famous World Cup trophy was kept under lock and key during Spain's 1-0 defeat of the Netherlands in Johannesburg.
Marquet Cot, from Sabadell, Catalonia, has previously pulled off security breaches at high-profile events including the Spanish Grand Prix, the Eurovision Song Contest and top European football matches.

A police spokesman said: 'The man is Jaume Marquet Cot, who has done this sort of thing before.
We're pretty annoyed that antics like this got in the way of the start of the match, but at least it wasn't a life-threatening situation.

'The bottom line is he has shown serious disrespect for the authorities and for the tournament. For that he will pay.'