“A FOOTBALL match was dramatically suspended due to a swarm of BEES. Players, referees, ballkids and even a cameraman all took emergency cover by lying on the ground in chaotic scenes. 7 Footballers took emergency cover during a bee invasion Credit: X/ESPNFC 7 Both teams dropped on to the floor to avoid the stingers Credit:”, — write: www.thesun.co.uk
Players, referees, ballkids and even a cameraman all took emergency cover by lying on the ground in chaotic scenes.
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Footballers took emergency cover during a bee invasionCredit: X/ESPNFC
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Both teams dropped on to the floor to avoid the stingersCredit: X/ESPNFC
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Even the cameraman was not taking any chancesCredit: X/ESPNFCCity FC Abuja took on JKU FC in Babati, Tanzania in a pre-season tournament.
But with the two sides locked at 1-1 in the 78th minute at the Kwaraa Stadium, play was halted for a bizarre reason.
Incredibly, a load of bees suddenly turned up and flew around the pitch.
So the two sets of players took evasive action – by dropping to their bellies and lying down to take cover.
An assistant referee and someone operating the broadcast TV camera did the same.
Even the substitutes hid under the bench of the dugouts – although they seemingly did see the funny side.
The spectators in the crowd, though, remained unmoved in their seats.
It is unclear if that was out of ignorance of the situation unfolding or sheer bravery.
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It is also what triggered the surprise arrival of the insects.
Some suggested freak weather in the week leading up to the match.
Others thought the vibrations from the match itself may have contributed.
Either way, the bees led to baffling footage.
Thankfully, reports state no one was stung during the invasion.
Instead, City FC Abuja had their own sting in the tail by grabbing a late winner.
Fans took to social media with their stunned reaction to the unlikely interruption.
One said: “This is just unnecessarily funny.”
Another wrote: “Nature doesn’t care about your football schedule. Smart move to lie down though, hope no one got hurt.”
And a third simply added: “Just wow.”
Ex-Barcelona and Brazil star Dani Alves got caught out by a wasp while playing for Sao Paulo in 2019.
And in tennis, Carlos Alcaraz’s showdown with Alexander Zverev at Indian Wells last year was suspended when the Spaniard was stung during a bee invasion.
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The substitutes hid under the benchCredit: X/ESPNFC
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The assistant referee also took shelterCredit: X/ESPNFC
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This ballboy joined in by lying on the groundCredit: X/ESPNFC
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A Carlos Alcaraz tennis match was halted last year when bees attacked the spider-camCredit: EPA