Drone causes brief delay at Southampton’s EPL game

By: The Associated Press Posted: 10:21 AM CST Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023

SOUTHAMPTON, England (AP) — The English Premier League game between Southampton and Aston Villa was briefly halted after a drone was spotted flying around St. Mary's Stadium late in the first half on Saturday.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/01/2023 (1365 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SOUTHAMPTON, England (AP) — The English Premier League game between Southampton and Aston Villa was briefly halted after a drone was spotted flying around St. Mary’s Stadium late in the first half on Saturday.

Referee Michael Salisbury instructed all players to leave the field minutes before the scheduled halftime break, and match officials waited near the tunnel.

A short time later, the drone was gone and play resumed.

Referee Michael Salisbury speaks to Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez as he leads the players off the pitch after a drone flying over the stadium stops playduring the English Premier League soccer match between Southampton and Aston Villa at St. Mary's Stadium, in Southampton, England, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. (Andrew Matthews/PA via AP)

A similar incident occurred one year ago in London when play was suspended for nearly 20 minutes in the first half of a league match between Brentford and Wolverhampton because a drone was hovering above the field.