Fleetwood vs Arsenal delayed as players taken off the pitch after drone spotted above

· Mirror

Arsenal's Carabao Cup clash with Fleetwood Town had to be paused after a matter of minutes after a drone was spotted above the stadium

Arsenal's Carabao Cup clash was halted for almost nine minutes when a drone was spotted above Fleetwood Town's Highbury Stadium after kick-off. The players were brought off the pitch in the eighth minute after the match, after the game was paused in the opening phases.

Referee Michael Salisbury explained the delay to both managers, while the crowd could only boo as the faint lights from the drone glimmered in the Sky. It appeared the delay was about to become more significant when the official gestured for both teams to depart the pitch following an initial pause, but the problem was soon rectified.

Police intervened and identified the operator to regain control of the game in the 10th minute.

FA guidance says that referee's must pause a match if a drone is spotted above a pitch or stadium. "Upon the sighting of a drone above a football pitch/ stadium, the Referee should stop the game and advise both team captains and managers that play will not continue until the drone has passed, or left the vicinity of the players and spectators," the guidance reads

> "Where appropriate speak to the safety officer of the home team to take their advise on the matter."

Three other criteria dictate the official's actions:

- If the drone is not passing or appearing to leave, where possible the Referee should advise both teams to return to the changing room, similar to if there was lighting. At grounds where this is not possible (open playing fields, public parks etc.), the Referee continues to wait until the drone has left. - It is not within a Match Officials remit to dictate where a drone can/cannot be flown. - Where drones are used for filming and media purposes, the drone must not fly above the playing area once players have entered the field of play to warm-up and until the players leave post-match having cooled down.

Mikel Arteta chose a young lineup for the trip to Fleetwood Town for the Carabao Cup. Marli Salmon, 17, started in the centre of defence alongside Cristhian Mosquera. Star youngster Max Dowman also started the game from the outset on the right, with Ceadach O'Neill making his Arsenal debut on the left.

Illan Meslier also came into the side to make his Gunners debut, with David Raya rotated out of the squad for the evening.

It was Fleetwood's Aaron Loupalo-Bi who made the fastest impression, however. The 20-year-old, on loan from Fulham, withheld Salmon's challenge and fired through the legs of Meslier to give the home side the lead after 21 minutes.

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