Play was dropped at a standstill throughout Austria’s 2026 World Cup qualifier in opposition to Cyprus after a sinkhole abruptly appeared on the pitch late within the second half.
The weird incident occurred across the seventy fifth minute, when Danish referee Jakob Kehlet halted the match after noticing the gaping gap close to Austria keeper Alexander Schlager’s field on the Raiffeisen Enviornment, in Linz.
The opening was broad sufficient to swallow a whole soccer, prompting floor workers to hurry on with buckets of sand in a frantic try and patch it up.
After greater than seven minutes of repairs, Kehlet lastly gave the inexperienced gentle to renew, with Austria finally sealing a 1-0 win due to Marcel Sabitzer’s second-half penalty – scored earlier than the bottom gave manner.
A bit of the pitch has actually collapsed within the sport between Austria & Cyprus. The bottom workers are operating up and down with buckets of soil making an attempt to type the scenario. Can’t keep in mind seeing something prefer it! pic.twitter.com/OECrF5jiGk
— Harry Symeou (@HarrySymeou) September 6, 2025
The win means Austria at the moment are second in Group H qualifying, having gained all three of their video games to this point, behind additionally unbeaten Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Remarkably, this isn’t the primary time Austrian soccer has flirted with the earth caving in. Again in 2022, a Nations League conflict in opposition to Denmark, which Austria misplaced 2-1, on the Ernst Happel Stadium was additionally interrupted by an enormous sinkhole opening up on the pitch.
Not less than this time Austria nonetheless managed to dig out the three factors – although perhaps somebody in must be calling a geologist earlier than the following fixture.
