Manchester United‘s match was paused after a drone was seen flying above the stadium, prompting officials to stop the game for safety.
This incident took place during United’s Under-21 match against Newcastle United at Leigh Sports Village, as reported by BBC Sport.
Referee Melissa Burgin halted the game in the second half, directing players to the side of the pitch.
Play was suspended for about three minutes before it resumed, deemed safe to continue.
The referee later had to pause the match again for the same issue.
This is the first time a United youth match has been formally stopped due to a drone.
The interruption happened during a tough match for the Red Devils, as Adam Lawrence’s team lost 3-1 to Newcastle in their final regular season game.
Despite this setback, United secured second place in the Premier League 2 table, ensuring home advantage in the upcoming playoffs.
This match concluded a challenging week for the academy, which included their exit from the Premier League International Cup against Real Madrid.
In that match, Under-18 winger Noah Ajayi played for the Under-21s, highlighting the club’s commitment to advancing young talent.
Notably, 18-year-old right-winger Shea Lacey was not part of the squad.
He began the season as a regular in the Under-21 team and has been noted for a potential promotion to the first team, which may explain his absence from this match.
While this result is a setback, the focus now shifts to the playoffs, where United’s young team aims to finish the season strongly.
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