UN-BEE-LIEVABLE FOOTBALL MATCH SUSPENDED AS SWARM OF BEES WRECK HAVOC WITH TERRIFIED PLAYERS FORCED TO LIE FLAT ON THE GROUND

Ex-Barcelona star and tennis superstar both stung while playing matches in recent years

 

Footballers took emergency cover during a bee invasion. Credit: X/ESPNFC

A FOOTBALL match was dramatically suspended due to a swarm of BEES.

Players, referees, ballkids and even a cameraman all took emergency cover by lying on the ground in chaotic scenes.

City FC Abuja took on JKU FC in Babati, Tanzania in a pre-season tournament.

Both teams dropped on to the floor to avoid the stingers. Credit: X/ESPNFC

 

Even the cameraman was not taking any chances. Credit: X/ESPNFC
 

But with the two sides locked at 1-1 in the 78th minute at the Kwaraa Stadium, play was halted for a bizarre reason.

Incredibly, a load of bees suddenly turned up and flew around the pitch.

So the two sets of players took evasive action - by dropping to their bellies and lying down to take cover.

An assistant referee and someone operating the broadcast TV camera did the same.

Even the substitutes hid under the bench of the dugouts - although they seemingly did see the funny side.

The substitutes hid under the bench. Credit: X/ESPNFC
 

The assistant referee also took shelterCredit: X/ESPNFC
 

This ballboy joined in by lying on the groundCredit: X/ESPNFC

The spectators in the crowd, though, remained unmoved in their seats.

 It is unclear if that was out of ignorance of the situation unfolding or sheer bravery.

It is also what triggered the surprise arrival of the insects.

Some suggested freak weather in the week leading up to the match.

Others thought the vibrations from the match itself may have contributed.

Either way, the bees led to baffling footage.

Thankfully, reports state no one was stung during the invasion.

Instead, City FC Abuja had their own sting in the tail by grabbing a late winner.

A Carlos Alcaraz tennis match was halted last year when bees attacked the spider-camCredit: EPA
 

Fans took to social media with their stunned reaction to the unlikely interruption.

One said: "This is just unnecessarily funny."

Another wrote: "Nature doesn't care about your football schedule. Smart move to lie down though, hope no one got hurt."

And a third simply added: "Just wow."

Ex-Barcelona and Brazil star Dani Alves got caught out by a wasp while playing for Sao Paulo in 2019.

And in tennis, Carlos Alcaraz's showdown with Alexander Zverev at Indian Wells last year was suspended when the Spaniard was stung during a bee invasion.

- Joshua Jones