UEFA Euro 2024: Strange scenes in Dortmund as lightning suspends Germany vs Denmark round of 16 match

The Euro 2024 round of 16 match between Germany and Denmark at the Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund was abandoned by the referee after thirty minutes on Saturday.

The match was interrupted due to rain during the UEFA EURO 2024 Round of 16 match between Germany and Denmark at Dortmund Football Stadium on June 29, 2024 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

New Delhi: Germany and Denmark faced off at the BVB Stadion Dortmund in the Round of 16. The hosts dominated the first twenty minutes, but Dens were just getting going. However, a strange turn of events interrupted the match. Lightning and severe, windy weather briefly interrupted the game.

Borussia Dortmund’s home stadium has no roof over the stadium, and the lightning struck too close to the pitch. The referee consulted with UEFA to stop play because of it.

The break came in the 36th minute when lightning struck near the stadium. Referee Anthony Taylor stopped play, and the stadium later announced that the match had been suspended.

BVB Stadion Dortmund announced on screen: “Due to unfavorable weather conditions, the match was suspended. More information soon,“.

Fans in the front rows of the famous South Stand took shelter as strong winds lashed their seats with heavy rain, causing water to spill over the edge of the roof. Some German fans sang: “Oh, how lovely“

Fans may wonder what will happen if a UEFA match is suspended by the referee due to unavoidable circumstances.

The match is replayed if a UEFA match is suspended

In accordance with UEFA regulations, if the referee decides to suspend the match and determines that the match will be completed on another day, the following conditions apply to the restart:

If the match is resumed the next day, it will be resumed with the same players on the pitch and the same substitutes as when the match was suspended. If a player cannot restart the match, he may be replaced by one of the previously listed substitutes, which counts as a substitution. If the team has already used all changes, no changes can be made. A listed substitute who cannot take his place on the bench cannot be replaced.
If the match is resumed at a later date, all eligible players who were on List A or B at the time the match was suspended, whether or not they were on the match sheet of the suspended match, may be included in the match report, with the exception of players who were suspended, substituted or sent off during a suspended match. Players who were on the pitch when the match was suspended cannot be named as substitutes when the match is restarted.