England’s World Cup last-16 clash against Mexico will have to be restarted on a future date, if FIFA are left with no choice but to abandon the game.
The Three Lions are in Mexico City for a showdown with the co-hosts, and pre-match fears that kick-off could be delayed by thunderstorms have come true.
The weather forecast for Sunday in the city is for cloudy conditions and bouts of rain through the morning and early afternoon, with a top temperature of around 25 degrees.
It was announced around 52 minutes ahead of the scheduled start time that kick-off had been pushed back by an hour due to “adverse weather”.
FIFA safety protocols state that “if there is lightning within a six-mile radius, supporters and teams will be prevented from entering the stadium.
“The game will not be allowed to start - or restart - until there is a 30-minute lightning-free window.”
What happens if England vs Mexico is abandoned?
As per the BBC, if FIFA has no choice but to abandon the game if conditions at the Estadio Azteca are not improving, then World Cup regulations state that the game would be played on a future date, restarting in the same minute as it was paused, with the remaining minutes played.
For example, if England vs Mexico is stopped on in the 88th minute, the players would return to play the remaining two minutes and stoppage time.
FIFA would also decide the date but it would almost certainly be the next day because of the tight nature of the fixture schedule and with the winners due to play the quarter-final on July 11.
FIFA's ruling regarding a World Cup fixture being abandoned is as follows:
a) The match shall recommence at the minute at which play was interrupted rather than being replayed in full, and with the same scoreline
The match shall recommence where play was stopped when the match was interrupted (e.g. with a free kick, throw‑in, goal kick, corner kick, penalty kick, etc.). If the match was abandoned while the ball was still in play, it shall restart with a dropped ball from the position of the ball when play was stopped.
b) The match shall recommence with the same players on the pitch and substitutes available as when the match was abandoned.
c) No additional substitutes may be added to the list of players on the start list.
d) The teams can make only the number of substitutions to which they were still entitled when the match was abandoned.
e) Players sent off during the abandoned match cannot be replaced.
f) Any disciplinary measures imposed before the match was abandoned will be dealt with in accordance with the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
g) The kick‑off time, date, location and any other matter shall be decided by FIFA.
FIFA are continuing to closely monitor the weather, after kick-off in Mexico’s 2-0 last-32 win over Ecuador at the same venue on Tuesday was delayed for an hour as the result of thunder and lightning.
