Athletic Bilbao have been awarded a 2-1 victory and Real Betis have been given a two-match stadium ban after a match between the sides was abandoned when Bilbao goalkeeper Armando was hit by a bottle thrown from the stands.

The ruling by the Spanish Football Federation came after Saturday's match at Bilbao's Manuel Ruiz de Lopera stadium was abandoned in the 69th minute after a fan struck Armando in the face with a bottle full of liquid as the goalkeeper turned to retrieve the ball from behind the goal.

Bilbao were winning the game 2-1 at the time and the RFEF said in a statement on their website: "The result will stand from when the game was stopped.

"Betis will be fined 9,000 euros (£7,031) and will have their sporting facilities closed for two matches."

Armando was struck just below the eye and received stitches for the wound.

The man who threw the bottle had earlier insisted that he meant no harm.

His lawyer, Alvaro Pimentel, said: "My client is deeply sorry. He didn't want to injure Armando. Carmelo is really affected by all this because he is a true Betis fan.

"All he asks now is that people show respect towards his family."

it is not the first time such an incident has occurred at the Manuel Ruiz de Lopera.

Last season, Sevilla coach Juande Ramos, now at Tottenham, was knocked out after being hit by a bottle thrown from the stands during a Copa del Rey quarter-final match there.

That game was abandoned and the remaining 33 minutes played behind closed doors at Getafe's stadium while Betis were given a three-match stadium ban.

Reuters