A fire erupted at Andorra’s national stadium during a live television report, just a day before England are due to play there in a World Cup qualifier.
Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett was doing a live piece to camera on the match after England had trained at the 3,300-seater Estadi Nacional in the capital Andorra la Vella just three hours earlier and Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate had conducted pre-game press duties, when the broadcast gantry on the other side of the venue suddenly burst into flames.
Sprinklers were initially used to try and control the fire as thick black smoke billowed high into the air and towards the apartments situated closely behind the small stadium.
The fire brigade quickly arrived to tackle the blaze and put it out, with nobody hurt.
Subsequent pictures showed the metal structure and walls behind left damaged and blackened, with debris visible including a ruined VAR monitor.
The pitch at the Estadi Nacional is artificial and there was clearly heavy damage to the surface around the touchline and technical areas, straying around a foot onto the pitch, while one of the dugouts has also been partially melted.
According to the Press Association, local police were also in attendance at the stadium along with UEFA and Andorran Football Federation staff.
It is unclear at this stage how much damage to the stadium was done by the fire or what exactly caused it.
However, the Andorran FA are confident that the contest against England will still go ahead as scheduled as work continues to get the stadium back into a fit state.
“The main thing is that there weren’t casualties or injuries,” said Andorran FA president Felix Alvarez. “There is only material damage.
“We are working on it so the game can be played tomorrow. Planning continues same as before.”
