EM Game interrupted in Dortmund
“It sounded like firecrackers. The storm is directly above the stadium”
Status: 22:04 | Reading time: 2 minutes
Surprising shower in the evening – two Danish fans brave the storm
Source: REUTERS
The round of 16 match between Germany and Denmark turns into a water fight in Dortmund. In the 36th minute, the referee stops the game because of a storm. Many fans take it with humor.
IIn the 30th minute, the rain started in Dortmund during the European Championship round of 16 match between Germany and Denmark (click here for the live ticker). The sky darkened noticeably. Thunder could be heard in the distance and lightning flashed. A huge storm was brewing over Dortmund. Referee Michael Oliver from England looked up at the sky and allowed the game to continue with the score at 0:0.
The rain got heavier and heavier, and a thunderstorm moved over the arena in Dortmund. In the 36th minute, lightning flashed directly over the stadium. The Danish players repeatedly raised their arms and looked at the referee. Oliver reacted and stopped the game in the 36th minute. He sent both teams to the sidelines.
In the 36th minute, referee Michael Oliver sent both teams to the dressing rooms
Source: Getty Images/Alexander Hassenstein
“The time between the lightning and the thunder was so short. If it gets too dangerous, the referee has to stop the game. That was the right decision,” said ZDF referee expert Manuel Gräfe. The teams stood on the sidelines and watched the weather. The rain turned into hail.
After 20 minutes the teams return
Oliver sent both teams to the changing rooms. “It sounded like firecrackers here. The storm is directly above the stadium,” said TV expert Per Mertesacker.
After a few minutes both teams were sent to the catacombs
Source: AFP/INA FASSBENDER
The German fans took the interruption and the bad weather with humor. “Oh, how beautiful it is,” the supporters sang. The hailstorm whipped through the stadium so hard that the fans in the first rows fled to the upper stands. Water pelted down from the roofs like a torrent. Some fans took off their jerseys and used the masses of water as a shower.
Fighting the water masses
Quelle: Getty Images/Dean Mouhtaropoulos
After a 20-minute break, both teams returned to the pitch to the loud cheers of the fans. The game did not continue immediately, however. The teams warmed up again. Oliver gave them another five minutes before restarting the game with a referee’s ball.
Because of the storm, the public viewing events in Dortmund were declared to be over early. The event in Westfalenpark will not be continued either, the organizers said. 30,000 people had gathered there by the time the match kicked off.
The fan festival in Dortmund was evacuated due to the storm
Source: dpa/Friso Gentsch
Four days ago, a thunderstorm raged in Frankfurt during the Romania vs. Slovakia match (1:1). Lightning struck right next to the stadium, but the game was not interrupted.
