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| AFP Yonhap News |
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| AFP Yonhap News |
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"This is not soccer."
This is the words of Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who finished the round of 16 at the FIFA Club World Cup in 2025 on the 29th (Korea time).
Chelsea played against Benfica of Portugal in the round of 16 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. However, it took as much as five hours from the start to the end of the game. It took longer than most professional baseball games.
It was okay until the last minute. Chelsea, which was leading by Reece James' free-kick first goal in the 19th minute of the second half, was notified of the suspension of the game in the 41st minute of the second half according to the lightning forecast. Two hours went by without the alarm going away in a chaotic atmosphere, and Chelsea players were forced to wait in the locker room. In the match that resumed two hours later, Chelsea conceded a penalty to Benfica just before the end of extra time in the second half, and eventually went into extra time as Angel Di Maria lost a point. Chelsea, who had a numerical advantage with an opponent's exit in extra time, finished the match 4-1 with three goals.
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| ReutersYonhap News |
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However, it was a hurtful honor for Maresca. In a post-match press conference, he complained that `the game has stopped and the situation has completely changed.' Then "This is not football. Many matches have already been suspended. I can understand the suspension of the game for security reasons, but this is not it. "It is impossible to wait indoors for this long (to avoid lightning strikes). If this environment continues, it will probably not be suitable as a venue for the tournament."
Lightning accidents occur frequently every June to July in the eastern United States. As a result, if there is a lightning strike within an 8-mile radius (about 13 kilometers), it is immediately evacuated to a safe place and is implementing the so-called '8-mile rule' that permits outdoor activities only if there is no lightning for 30 minutes. However, as this tournament is centered on the east, the Club World Cup is directly hit by the eight-mile rule. K League 1 Ulsan Hyundai also lost after losing its sense after being suspended by the 8-mile rule shortly after the start of the first group match against Marmelody Sundowns (South Africa).
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| ReutersYonhap News |
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New Jersey's MatLife Stadium in the East, where the Club World Cup will be held, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Miami Hard Rock Stadium, and Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia are also hosting the 2026 North-China World Cup. However, except for Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the rest of the stadiums are outdoor stadiums, and the eight-mile rule is inevitable. This is why it is difficult to eliminate concerns about similar situations at the North Korea-China World Cup next year.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
