The Real Madrid and Barcelona match at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Saturday was delayed nearly an hour after severe weather upended the international friendly.
Referees stopped the game in the 12th minute after lightning struck in the area, and confused players started leaving the pitch just as a torrential downpour began. The game would remain suspended as the rainfall grew heavier and lightning rolled through the region.
MetLife Stadium staff advised fans to exit their seats and seek covered shelter, with police also entering the pitch to clear the field. At around 7:19 p.m. ET, an emergency alert was sent to everyone inside the stadium, and all phones inside the press box began to go off.
By 8:15 p.m. ET, organizers told reporters in the press box players would resume warmups “in five minutes.” Fans slowly started returning to their seats and cheered when players returned to the pitch.
The rain has since stopped, but puddles were visible on the pitch during the hour delay. Water fell down the stands like a waterfall.
Severe weather was present in northern New Jersey all weekend, with the NWSL and Liga MX Femenil’s Summer Cup match between Gotham and Chivas on Friday night delayed for forty minutes because of heavy rain. The weather on Saturday was more severe, with lightning strikes visible above the stadium even as players began warming up to resume.
Teams did not receive any notification from organizers before the match, despite the threat of lightning, The Athletic has learned. If the match did not resume tonight, it would have been cancelled and not played again another day.
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