In the midst of the Euro 2024 last-16 game between Germany and Denmark at Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion, a sudden flash of lightning forced the players off the pitch. The referee, Michael Oliver, made the decision to halt play in the 36th minute with the score tied at 0-0. The players left the field as lightning continued to strike in the sky, creating hazardous conditions due to a massive thunderstorm.
As heavy rain poured down on the pitch, water cascaded down one corner of the stadium roof near the Denmark supporters. A notice appeared on the stadium screens, informing fans that the match had been suspended due to adverse weather conditions. Spectators were left waiting for further information on when the game would resume.
After a 25-minute delay, play finally resumed. However, people in Dortmund’s fan zones had to be evacuated for safety reasons due to police warnings of public viewing areas such as Peace Square and Westfalenpark being cancelled during the thunderstorm. Despite this interruption, Germany ultimately won over Denmark before their fans who waited patiently for action to resume after being informed of its resumption on social media platforms and TV channels.
