Southampton’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa is delayed for 10 minutes due to a drone

Southampton’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa was temporarily suspended due to a drone flying over the pitch at St Mary’s.

Referee Michael Salisbury had to take the players off the pitch after 42 minutes of the clash after the drone was hovering over the stadium.

The delay lasted around 10 minutes before the players returned and completed the first half.

Southampton’s game against Aston Villa was halted due to a drone flying over the pitch

Police and the stadium safety officer signed off the return to action with the first half ending goalless.

The drone appeared to confuse several players after it was noticed by a number of them, with Salisbury alerted by Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez as he lined up to take a goal kick.

Supporters inside the stadium were informed players had left the pitch due to their own safety, leaving many perplexed.

Football matches are required to be stopped when drones fly overhead due to the threat to fans and players in the ground, along with a potential terrorist threat.

The delay at St Mary’s lasted around 10 minutes and left many of the players confused

The drone was spotted by players and Emiliano Martinez informed referee Michael Salisbury

They are also halted due to the potential of illegal broadcasting of the game from the above drone.

A game was stopped last season between Brentford and Wolves when the drone hovered above the pitch at the Gtech Community Stadium, causing a delay of around 20 minutes. 

Former Villa defender Stephen Warnock commented on the incident on BBC Final Score as he said: ‘Never seen this. Very interesting. A new one to write home about, to tick off the list. 

‘Obviously the safety of the players comes first but it’s just interesting as to how these things get in there in the first place.’