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Weather delays in football are extremely rare with most facilities around the world well-equipped to handle even the most inclement rain or snowfall. However, Scotland's Euro 2024 Qualifier against Georgia at Hampden Park was suspended for over an hour and a half due to a waterlogged pitch caused by torrential rain.
The match had started with the hosts taking an early lead through Callum McGregor's sixth-minute strike. However, the game was halted after just seven minutes by referee Istvan Vad, who deemed the conditions unsafe for the players.
The heavy downpour had started about half an hour before kick-off and continued throughout the evening, leaving large puddles on the pitch and making it difficult for the ball to roll. The ground staff worked hard to clear the excess water with brushes and sponges, while the referee inspected the pitch several times to assess its playability.
After a delay of about 90 minutes, the match finally restarted at 9:35 pm local time, with Scotland still leading 1-0. The Scots dominated the rest of the first half and doubled their lead in the 48th minute through Scott McTominay's volley.
Scotland manager Steve Clarke praised his players and fans for their professionalism and patience during the long suspension. He said, "It was difficult for everybody but I thought we handled it well. We kept our focus and concentration and we got our reward with another good performance and another good result." He also thanked the ground staff for their efforts to make the pitch playable.
Georgia boss Willy Sagnol was less impressed with the situation and criticized UEFA for allowing the game to go ahead. He said: "It was not football tonight. It was not fair play. It was not respect for the players or for the fans. It was a joke." He also claimed that his team was not informed about the restart time and that they were forced to play under protest.
Scotland's fourth consecutive win in Group A put them on top of the table with 12 points, three ahead of second-placed Spain. Scotland will next face Cyprus away on September 8, while Georgia will host Spain on the same day.
