One game delayed for nearly 5 hours, and the Chelsea coach was angry: "This is no longer football!"

In the early morning of June 29, 2025, Chelsea defeated Benfica 4-1 in the round of 16 of the Club World Cup. However, after the game, Blues coach Enzo Maresca was very angry and made severe criticisms of the event organizer FIFA and the organization of the game.

This game was held in Charlotte, USA, but less than 4 minutes before the game ended, the game was suspended for more than two hours due to sudden thunderstorms. Maresca said bluntly after the game: "It's all like a farce. If you pause the game for two hours, it's no longer a football game. The rhythm and situation of the game are completely disrupted."

He further stated: "I understand that the game must be suspended for safety reasons, but if there is such a risk, then Charlotte may not be suitable for such a high-level football game."

At that time, the sky suddenly became dark and cloudy, and the stadium had to notify the audience through the radio to leave their seats immediately and find a safe haven. It was initially officially announced that the game would resume at 6:35, but it was not until nearly two hours later that the game started again at 7:50 and time continued from the 86th minute.

Dramatically, in the 90th and 4th minute of stoppage time, Benfica scored a penalty - Gaston Angel Di Maria took the penalty and tied the score 1-1. This goal forced the game into overtime. Originally, Chelsea was likely to win in regular time.

Maresca also sarcastically pointed out that if the game was not interrupted, Chelsea might have already locked in the victory in 90 minutes instead of dragging into overtime. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the referees and the organizers of the event, believing that their decisions seriously affected the fairness and fluency of the game.

This incident once again sparked controversy over FIFA's choice of the United States as the host of the 2025 Club World Cup. This event will be held in 12 cities across the United States, but many regions, including Charlotte, often encounter extreme weather in summer, especially frequent thunderstorms and storms, which brings great challenges to the event organization. Many coaches have also expressed concerns about intensive schedules and uncertain environmental conditions.

For professional teams, this sudden weather interference not only affects tactical deployment, but also may change the outcome of the game. Maresca's angry voice represents a growing number of coaches and players' questioning the rationality of the game's interruption practices.