The game between Southampton and Aston Villa had to be delayed on Saturday after a drone flew into St. Mary’s Stadium.
Postponements in football are nothing strange, they usually come in the form of bad weather or traffic delays. But on Saturday afternoon the Southampton and Aston Villa game was called off for a very peculiar reason.
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In the 41st minute, just before Aston Villa were about to take a free-kick, the referee stopped the game. He waved the players off the pitch as he pointed to a drone loitering just overhead.
🚨 Southampton vs Aston Villa has been postponed due to a drone flying over the stadium
❌ Both sets of players have been called off the pitch pic.twitter.com/lfdnjHjhNT
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) January 21, 2023
Drone coming to save Southampton 😭 pic.twitter.com/NDxkXAcOM6
— Villa Watch (@VillaWatch1) January 21, 2023
Southampton vs. Aston Villa was temporarily halted because of a drone flying over the stadium 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/mfgCD5ZUQb
— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 21, 2023
After a brief delay in the action, while officials sorted out the issue, the game is now back underway.