Italian reporter attacks rowdy football fan with inflatable banana on transfer deadline day

The journalist was delivering a live report from Stamford Bridge on transfer deadline day

Transfer deadline day is renowned for attracting rowdy football fans wielding increasingly outlandish pranks against reporters as they attempt to deliver live bulletins.

Reporting live outside Stamford Bridge, an Italian journalist decided get his revenge upon one unruly football fan who began to ambush him with a giant, inflatable banana.

After creeping up upon the unwitting journalist, reporting for Sportitalia, the bearded fan begins to repeatedly poke the reporter with the inflatable fruit and rub him exuberantly on the head.

The fan repeatedly pokes the reporter with the inflatable fruit (SportItalia/ YouTube)

Initially the reporter remains stoic in the face of the annoying antics, yet after just under 20 seconds of irritation he finally snaps, with hilarious consequences.

In scenes reminiscent of a slap-stick comedy the reporter takes matters into his own hands, snatching the banana away from his rowdy adversary and wielding it upon him instead.

Transfer deadline day is one of the most popular events of the footballing calendar as clubs attempt to sign players before the window closes.

The reporter get his own back on the rowdy football fan (SportItalia/ YouTube)

A number of reporters have been forced to deal with unruly individuals on Transfer deadline day (SportItalia/ YouTube)

A number of reporters have been forced to deal with foul-mouthed and unruly individuals doing their upmost to disrupt each live bulletin surrounding the event.

Last year, Sky Sports took the decision to place their reporters inside stadiums and training grounds rather than in public areas after a number were subject to lewd tricks.

Sky Sports reporter, Alan Irwin, was forced to continue a live broadcast last year while one fan thrust a purple sex toy into his ear.

Another reporter saw one of his broadcasts interrupted by a naked blow-up doll.