LIGA MX
Why play was stopped for América vs Chivas friendly in the USA
It may not have been an official game at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles, but there was enough of a spark to see it delayed for some time.
The ‘friendly’ Clásico Nacional held in the United States drew a huge crowd of Mexican fans residing in the country, over 86,000 making it the biggest in the US for two teams from across the border. But with Club América leading 2-0 against Chivas, a brief disruption occurred at both ends of the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles, California, as fans launched smoke bombs onto the field and ignited flares.
Flares light up and pause Clásico
The flares, in yellow, green, and red colours, along with the smoke bombs, blanketed the entire playing field, completely obstructing the players’ visibility. Consequently, the referee decided to halt the match for approximately seven minutes, during which time the coaches took advantage to make their final substitutions.
Despite expectations that the referee would add on the lost minutes due to the delay, he opted to conclude the game precisely on the 90th minute, leading to the Chivas players and coaching staff being less than happy as they confronted him when he blew the final whistle. A friendly in name only.