UEFA Euro 2024 cannot stop surprising the fans. The tournament is already experiencing some fantastic matches with a few strong teams facing surprising defeats. But, today’s game between Germany and Denmark saw a lightning moment that stopped everyone on the field from doing their job. The game had to be suspended by the referee Michael Oliver around the 36th minute with players going off the field. But what was the reason?

The game faced a scare after the skies turned fierce with striking sounds of thunder and visuals of lightning. Following this, the heavy pelting started at the Westfalenstadion, leaving the crowds in the stand to cover themselves. The game was on its usual course with the hosts Germany dominating most of the time and even testing Kasper Schmeichel, but with the weather seeming problematic no risks were taken.

After the game was temporarily suspended by Oliver, UEFA wrote, “Due to adverse weather conditions (thunderstorms and heavy rain) in Dortmund, it has been decided to suspend the UEFA EURO 2024 Round of 16 match between Germany and Denmark. UEFA will make an announcement on the resumption of the match in due course,” during the 15-minute halt.

Nevertheless, the players from both teams and the officials were back on the field. The play resumed after a 5-minute warm-up session by both teams who completed the remaining 10 minutes of the first half to stay level at 0-0.

Subsequently, 6 minutes into the second half, Joachim Andersen was found guilty of deviating the ball with his hand and handed a penalty to the hosts. Striker Kai Havertz buried the shot giving Die Mannschaft a goal lead before Musiala secured a 2-goal league in the 69th minute. However, this is not the first time a match has been suspended due to such weather.

Not the first time a soccer game was suspended due to weather

Soccer is a rare sport that is played even under showers. However, when the weather threatens to cause harm, decisions are made to pause the game for everyone’s well-being. The recent-most instance was in the MLS clash between New York Red Bulls vs. Toronto FC which was also halted due to severe weather conditions but was resumed after nearly a 100-minute break. MLS has experienced few such episodes but coming to international soccer, the game between England and Poland in the 2014 World Cup qualifier was called off. The game at Warsaw in 2012 was postponed due to bad pitch conditions caused by heavy outpouring earlier.

Moreover, the pitch conditions, wind, and rain are major reasons why fixtures could be interrupted in soccer. However, to the German fans’ delight, the team finished the business and reached the quarterfinals where they can face either Spain or Georgia on Friday.