10 instances where football matches got suspended due to weather conditions after Germany vs Denmark joins list at Euro 2024
The Euro 2024 Round of 16 clash between Germany and Denmark was temporarily suspended due to safety concerns, as thunderstorms interrupted gameplay on Saturday (June 30). It resumed shortly, with Kai Havertz giving the Germans the lead by converting a penalty in the 53rd minute.
The referee Michael Oliver had asked both teams to leave the pitch in the 34th minute as lightning began amid heavy rain over Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany. This is the first time such a situation arose during Euro 2024.
The Euro 2024 clash between Germany and Denmark is not the first time a match was interrupted due to weather or other natural calamities, though. Football matches has rarely been cancelled due to unprecendented weather conditions, but there have been a few similar instances in the past in both the club and international level.
Apart from Germany vs Denmark in Euro 2024, some important instances include fixtures between Poland and England, Galatasaray and Juventus, Napoli and Juventus and Benfica and Sporting.
In such cases, the matches were usually rescheduled if they couldn't be resumed on the same day.
10 suspended football matches due to weather apart from Germany vs Denmark Euro 2024 knockout fixture
Here's a list of ten important instances in history when a football match was suspended due to adverse weather conditions:
#1 Parma vs Juventus (2012)
In February 2012, three Serie A matches were postponed owing to heavy snowfall across north Italy, including a high-profile match between Parma and Juventus. The two other fixtures were Bologna vs Fiorentina and Siena vs Catania.
#2 Napoli vs Juventus (2011)
An in-demand league match between Serie A giants Napoli and Juventus had to be rescheduled in November 2011 due to floods. Inter Milan's clash against Genoa also made it to the list of temporary suspension due to the natural calamity.
#3 Sydney FC vs Perth Glory (2011)
Much like the Euro 2024 knockout game between Germany and Denmark, another big match that had to be postponed due to thunder and lightning was an A-league clash between Sydney FC and Perth Glory in December 2011.
Perth Glory players were unable to travel to Sydney, as thunderstorms had led to the cancellation of all flights from Perth.
#4 Poland vs England (2012)
A 2014 World Cup qualifier match between England and Poland was suspended in October 2012 after officials found the pitch at Warsaw to be unplayable due to heavy rains. The retractable roof of the stadium in the capital was reportedly kept open throughout, which ruined the pitch.
#5 Newcastle vs Swansea (1953)
An FA Cup match between Swansea and Newcastle United at St James Park Stadium was cancelled in January 1953. After eight minutes of gameplay, a thick fog settled into the stadium, leading to the postponement.
This is another instance like the Germany vs Denmark knockout game in Euro 2024 when the match had to be halted midway.
#6 Galatasaray vs Juventus (2013)
Serie A clubs seem to have suffered due to adverse weather conditions more times than other clubs. A 2013 Champions League group-stage clash between Juventus and Galatasaray had to be postponed 23 minutes into the game due to heavy snow.
The match could only resume the next day, with Galatasaray beating Juventus to move to the Round of 16.
#7 Walsall vs Newcastle (1894)
More than a century back, in 1894, a second division Premier League clash between Newcastle and Walsall Town Shifts had to be abandoned in the 78th minute, as there was not enough light left to complete it.
The match began after a 20-minute delay, as the players had to reach a financial agreement with club owners. The delay finally led to the light fading, and the match had to be cancelled.
#8 Benfica vs Sporting Lisbon (2014)
A Lisbon derby between Benfica and Sporting Lisbon in the Premiera Liga was postponed in 2014 due to high winds.
The then Premiera Liga president, Mario Figueiredo told The Guardian that shards of glass that came off the roof had flown into the stadium.
#9 Marseille vs Lyon (2012)
In October 2012, the game between French clubs Marseille and Lyon in Ligue 1 had to be suspended temporarily due to heavy winds.
#10 NY Red Bulls vs DC United (2012)
Snow and wind has frequently been the nemesis of football. In November 2012, an MLS Eastern Conference match between New York Red Bulls and DC United had to be postponed due to heavy snow and wind. It was rescheduled the same week.