An unusual incident interrupted the League Cup clash between Fleetwood Town and Arsenal at Highbury Stadium. Barely two minutes had elapsed when the referee stopped play after spotting an unauthorized drone flying over the pitch.
Following British football safety protocols, the referee ordered the players to return to the benches as a precaution. Fans in the stands watched in surprise as the small remote-controlled device continued hovering low over the pitch.
The match was halted for seven minutes while stadium staff and police assessed the situation to neutralize the device. Fortunately, the aerial intrusion was resolved without incident or danger to players or spectators.
📸 Carl Recine - 2026 Getty Images
Once the drone left the stadium's airspace, the referee allowed both teams back onto the pitch. After a few quick warm-up exercises to keep their muscles warm, play resumed as normal.
The episode will go down as one of the most unusual and unexpected moments in this season's English cup competition. Authorities have already launched an investigation to identify and penalize the person responsible for the unauthorized flight.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.