Spectators attending a Portuguese soccer match between Estoril and FC Porto were evacuated midway through the game amid fears one of its stands could collapse after cracks appeared in one of the stadium’s pillars.
The 8,000-seat Antonio Coimbra da Mota Stadium, located 25km from Lisbon, was playing host to a league match on Monday, January 15, when a 2cm crack appeared in the middle section of the venue’s recently constructed away stand.
At half-time, a meeting between officials of the two teams and Liga Portugal agreed “security conditions were not met” and the 2,500 away fans at the game were told to leave their seats and wait on the playing field.
A statement on the Estoril website read, “The interruption is linked to the fact that part of the north side of the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota had damage in the middle, which caused some alarm and that led the authorities to safely evacuate the entire stand in question.”
“In due course, the fans who have come to watch the game will be informed about how they will be compensated for their tickets.”
It is understood the second half of the match will be played at a later date.
January 17, 2018
