A rugby fan was stabbed after a heated argument at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.

According to the The Herald, the incident took place during the Currie Cup match between the EP Kings and the Golden Lions. Shortly before the final whistle, there was a disagreement between two men, and a punch was thrown. When a third person attempted to intervene, he was stabbed in the back.

The newspaper reports that the assailant subsequently disappeared into the crowd. One witness told The Herald that the fight was over a refereeing decision. 

Stadium security officials arrived shortly after the incident to assist the injured man. He was treated by medical personnel at the scene before being taken by ambulance to Greenacres Hospital.

EP Kings CEO Charl Crous has called on spectators to respect the stadium's zero-tolerance policy on violence.

'We are shocked and saddened by the fact that an incident of this nature has occurred at one of our home games,' Crous said.

Photo: Fredlin Adriaan/The Herald