Football match halted after medical emergency as players ordered off pitch

A non-league game was paused due to a medical emergency in the stands with both sets of players being taken off the pitch. The incident occurred during the second half of the FA Trophy match between Harborough Town and Rushden and Diamonds. Harborough scored twice before the break, leaving their opponents with a mountain to climb in the second half.

Shortly after play resumed, a medical incident in the stands brought the game to a halt. The referee stopped play in the 51st minute, with Rushden and Diamonds posting on X (formerly Twitter): "Break in the game as there is an incident in the stands." Eight minutes later, another update read: "The players have been led off the pitch while the medical emergency in the stands is ongoing."

The match was eventually able to continue after a delay of around 19 minutes. Rushden and Diamonds posted: "Players are back on and the game has restarted at 51 minutes."

Harborough went on to double their advantage with two more goals in the space of 20 minutes. The visitors pulled one back as the game entered its final stages, but it was not enough to inspire a remarkable turnaround.

Matches being delayed because of medical emergencies in the stands is nothing new in football.

Last month, the game between Crystal Palace and Liverpool was stopped for nearly seven minutes due to a similar incident at Selhurst Park.

Dominik Szoboszlai and Daniel Munoz spotted the incident in the home end and alerted staff from both clubs. Medics rushed in to support the ailing fan as referee Chris Kavanagh paused the match.

Applause rang around the stadium as the medical staff walked back across the pitch after the incident had been dealt with.

Commentators reported that the supporter in question appeared fine as Kavanagh blew the whistle for play to resume.

Another stoppage was required in the game between Nottingham Forest and West Ham United at the end of August. Shortly after half-time, play was stopped to allow a supporter to receive medical assistance.

The disruption took three minutes in total and play was resumed with 52 minutes on the clock.