A Europa Conference League encounter in Croatia came to an abrupt halt after just 12 minutes when torrential rain made playing conditions near-impossible.
The match between Rijeka and Sparta Prague at Stadion HNK Rijeka was suspended with the score still goalless as heavy downpours transformed the pitch into a waterlogged mess.
English referee Robert Jones made the decision to stop play after consulting both team captains, with huge puddles forming across the surface making it impossible for players to control or pass the ball properly.
The dramatic weather interruption meant supporters had to seek shelter in the stands as the storm intensified over the stadium.
The conditions were rather extraordinary. Water was splashing dramatically and the ball was simply unable to roll across the surface.
During play, the Croatian hosts actually thought they’d broken the deadlock in the ninth minute when Toni Fruk put the ball in the net from close range. Their celebrations were cut short when VAR intervened, though, ruling the effort out for a marginal offside.
A Europa Conference League encounter in Croatia came to an abrupt halt after just 12 minutes when torrential rain made playing conditions near-impossible
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REUTERS
Just moments after that disappointment, the heavens properly opened and the match descended into chaos.
Standing water spread rapidly across the pitch, making any attempt at football completely impossible as players struggled through the deepening puddles.
⏰ KONEC
Dnes už se hrát nebude. Rozhodčí naposledy foukl do píšťalky. O dalším postupu vás budeme informovat. pic.twitter.com/e0nmUIkVrS
— AC Sparta Praha (@ACSparta_CZ) October 23, 2025
Ground staff battled valiantly with rollers and brushes to clear the excess water, but their efforts proved futile against the relentless downpour.
The match did eventually restart at 8pm after officials hoped conditions had improved sufficiently.
However, the respite was short-lived as play was permanently halted at half-time when it became clear the pitch remained unfit for football.
UEFA has now rescheduled the fixture to resume on Friday at 3pm UK time, meaning Czech supporters face an unexpected extended stay in the Croatian coastal city.
The torrential downpour meant football was near-impossible
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REUTERS
The match will pick up from where it left off, with the scoreline still locked at 0-0.
The washout came at a crucial point in the group phase for both sides, with contrasting fortunes from their opening fixtures.
Rijeka are still searching for their first points after suffering defeat to Noah in their initial match.
The Croatian side played most of that game with ten men following an early red card and conceded an early goal.
It’s a different story for Sparta Prague, who arrived on the Croatian coast in confident mood.
The Czech visitors had made a brilliant start to their campaign, thrashing Shamrock Rovers 4-1 in their opening encounter and were looking to maintain their perfect record before the weather intervened.
