Arsenal's Carabao Cup fourth round tie against League Two Fleetwood Town was interrupted just minutes into the game at Highbury Stadium on Tuesday night
Referee Michael Salisbury talks with Matt Lawlor and Mikel Arteta
Referee Michael Salisbury talks with Matt Lawlor and Mikel Arteta(Image: (Carl Recine/Getty Images))
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Arsenal’s Carabao Cup tie against Fleetwood Town was delayed due to a drone flying above the ground. Just two minutes into the game at Highbury Stadium, referee Michael Salisbury was forced to stop play after being made aware that a drone was flying above the pitch.
Salisbury spoke to both Mikel Arteta and Matt Lawlor before telling both sets of players to leave the field of play as boos rang out from the crowd. Eight and a half minutes later, play got back under way with Piero Hincapie heading a Max Dowman free-kick over the top in the first bit of action.The FA’s website tells match officials to stop play in the event of a drone sighting. It says: “The use of drones is becoming ever more present in sports settings and particularly at football matches, with some examples from recent seasons in the England professional game.
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“The following guidance is predominately for Match Officials, but is also relevant to players, coaches/ managers, parents, spectators and club officials:
“Upon the sighting of a drone above a football pitch/ stadium, the Referee should stop the game and advise both team captains and managers that play will not continue until the drone has passed, or left the vicinity of the players and spectators. Where appropriate speak to the safety officer of the home team to take their advise on the matter.
“If the drone is not passing or appearing to leave, where possible the Referee should advise both teams to return to the changing room, similar to if there was lighting. At grounds where this is not possible (open playing fields, public parks etc.), the Referee continues to wait until the drone has left.
“It is not within a Match Officials remit to dictate where a drone can/cannot be flown.
Arsenal's game against Fleetwood Town was paused as a drone flew above Highbury Stadium
Arsenal's game against Fleetwood Town was paused as a drone flew above Highbury Stadium(Image: (Carl Recine/Getty Images))
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“Where drones are used for filming and media purposes, the drone must not fly above the playing area once players have entered the field of play to warm-up and until the players leave post-match having cooled down.”
The match is the biggest in Fleetwood’s 15-year history as a football league club, and Arteta said pre-match: "Our reputation, our pride, everything is in play.
“So every time you play a football match, and especially against a team in a different division, respect the game, respect every opponent because they deserve to do that, and then try to win and try to play a bit better than them.
"We all have one [upset] at some stage. We know the risk, and in football, things can get very equal the moment you are able to match certain things, and that's why our basics and habits have to be through the roof to be able to win the game."
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