Arsenal’s Carabao Cup last-16 tie at Fleetwood Town was halted for more than eight minutes after a drone was spotted flying above the stadium during the match. The bizarre interruption brought play to a standstill at Highbury Stadium, with the referee, both benches and police all involved in dealing with the incident.
Fleetwood vs Arsenal (Credits: BBC Sport)
Drone halts Fleetwood vs Arsenal Carabao Cup tie at Highbury
Referee Michael Salisbury stopped play with just one minute and 40 seconds on the clock after spotting the drone flying above the pitch. The timing could hardly have been stranger, with Arsenal waiting to take a free-kick when the official brought the game to a halt.
With the drone hovering overhead, Salisbury spoke to both sides, holding discussions with the management and staff on each bench while police investigated the situation. Player safety is paramount in such incidents, and with an unauthorised drone in the airspace above the pitch, there was no option but to wait until the situation was resolved.
The delay stretched on for more than eight minutes, a lengthy stoppage so early in a cup tie, before the match finally got back underway with 10 minutes on the clock. According to the commentator on Sky, police had located the drone operator by the time play resumed.
Drone incidents a growing problem for football matches
Drone incursions at football stadiums have become an increasingly familiar problem in recent years, forcing stoppages and raising safety concerns. Flying a drone over a crowded stadium is not only a security risk but also a criminal offence in many jurisdictions, and clubs and authorities have repeatedly warned fans against it.
For the players, such a long early stoppage is far from ideal, breaking rhythm and concentration just as a cup tie is getting going. For Fleetwood, hosting Premier League giants Arsenal in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup is a huge occasion, and the last thing either side wanted was an enforced break before the game had even settled.
Thankfully, the situation was resolved without further incident, and the tie was able to continue. But the drone delay will remain one of the talking points of the night, a reminder that even the best-planned fixtures can be thrown off course by events entirely outside anyone’s control.
Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.
