In the new Club World Cup, weather is becoming one of the greatest protagonists. Several parties have been interrupted by weather conditions and is expected to continue to occur in what remains of tournaments. However, this was already lived by the Spanish fans in last summer. Neither more nor less than in a classic.
Last summer duel at the Metlife Stadium in New Jersey left an unprecedented image that no fan will forget. A storm stopped the show for almost an hour and a quarterin one of the most curious episodes of recent years among world football giants.
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It was a hot and humid night in East Rutherford, and more than 82,000 spectators filled the stands of the stadium, ready to enjoy the most media game of summer on American soil. Tickets in record time had been exhausted. The players were already on the grass, the ball rolled, and the intensity was the usual in a classic, even in preseason. But in the 11th minute, everything changed.
As soon as the meeting started, The referee stopped the game unexpectedly. There were no obvious signs of storm: neither rain, nor wind. Players like Luka Modric and Íñigo Martínez showed their perplexity, asking the arbitration body what happened. The answer was not in the field, but in the sky. A ray had been detected less than 13 kilometers from the stadium, immediately activating the strict American security protocol for outdoor sporting events.
IMMEDIATE RIVERS AND EVACUATION
In the United Statessafety against extreme meteorological phenomena is a priority. If a ray falls into a radius of 13 kilometers, the event is suspended for 30 minutes, and that clock is restarted every time a new ray falls. In the case of the classic, the radar did not stop detecting electrical activity for more than an hour.
New Jersey State Police soon acts. He agreed to the pitch and asked both teams to leave the grass. In less than 15 minutes, the stadium was evicted surprisingly. Almost 83,000 people took refuge in the halls and interior areas of the Metlife Stadium. And then, as if it were a scene taken from a dystopian film, all mobile phones present began to sound at the same time.
“Public Security Message. Metlife Stadium. Of the New Jersey State Police. For your safety, we beg you to leave the outdoor seats and the field and take refuge inside the facilities due to weather inclement inclement. Please do not meet in the tickets. Use the space of the ramps. The event staff is available.”
An hour and fifteen minutes later, with the most clear sky and without new electric shocks, the equipment returned to the grass. And, despite the long break, the game did not disappoint. Barcelona ended up taking the triumph 1-2, with goals from Pau Víctor and Nico Paz.
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A warning that is repeated
Last summer classic was not an isolated event. Now, in the world of clubs also played in the United States, several similar interruptions have been repeated due to extreme climatic conditions. The American meteorology, especially in summer, is unpredictable already severe, with thunderstorms that appear suddenly. Several meetings of the tournament have already been delayed for this reason, and they will not be the last.
