Palmeiras v Al Ahly suspended for an hour due to ‘severe weather’ concerns

The Club World Cup match between Palmeiras and Al Ahly was suspended with half an hour left to play due to safety concerns about “severe weather”.

The game was halted with Palmeiras leading 2-0 courtesy of an own goal from Wessam Abou and a Flaco Lopez strike.

English referee Anthony Taylor, who had earlier overturned a red card for Raphael Veiga on his 30th birthday, was forced to stop proceedings after 63-minutes in New Jersey due to the threat of a storm.

Spectators at MetLife Stadium, where next year’s World Cup final is set to take place, were instructed to “take shelter” inside the concourse.

A message to fans on big screens read: “Your attention please.

“For your safety, we are going to have everyone leave the Seating Bowl area and take shelter inside the stadium because of severe weather in the area.

“Event Staff are available to guide and assist you. Those on the field, please walk calmly to the nearest tunnel, to the West Hall, or to the service corridor.”

63′ The game is interrupted due to bad weather!

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The Group A match resumed just under an hour later, while the other match in that group, Inter Miami v Porto, kicks-off at 20:00 (UK time).

It is the second time play has been interrupted so far in the tournament due to the weather.

The Group F match in Orlando on Wednesday (UK time) between South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns and Ulsan of South Korea had to be delayed for 65 minutes because of the threat of lightning.