Airborne danger on the pitch – a wasp invasion

Football in South America holds the status of a religion, and events on the pitch across the continent sometimes venture into the realm of the surreal.

In the first leg of the Colombian Cup semifinals on the outskirts of Medellin, hosts Envigado faced Millonarios. The game wasn’t a spectacle of dazzling football or a goal fest; in fact, the match ended with a narrow 1-0 victory for the home side, thanks to Tomas Soto’s strike in the 14th minute. However, that wasn’t what made this encounter unforgettable.

Early in the second half, specifically in the 53rd minute, a swarm of wasps descended onto the pitch, forcing referee Mauricio Mercado to suspend the game. The insects refused to move away from the players and officials, so everyone had to hit the ground to protect themselves from the swarm. After a few minutes, it seemed the situation had calmed down, and the match was set to resume.

Yet, the television cameras captured a striking detail: the wasps were gathering near the corner flag, apparently preparing another attack, which struck 10 minutes later. Referee Mercado blew his whistle once again, halting play for a second time as the insects swarmed the goal where visiting team goalkeeper Diego Novoa was stationed.

Eventually, the situation settled, and the rivals managed to avoid a third onslaught from the persistent insects, bringing the match to its conclusion.