August 12, 2026 was a big day for fans of all things astrophysics as the UK enjoyed a partial eclipse of the sun and other parts of the world, notably Spain and Iceland, witnessed a total eclipse. It was a memorable event for many, but not everyone was enthused by the prospect: some football matches in the UK had to be postponed as the host club did not have floodlights and it was deemed unsafe to play in near darkness.
The last time there was a significant eclipse in the UK back in 1999, more games had to be postponed for various reasons – but this celestial event is only one of many bizarre reasons for games of football to be postponed over the years.
Total Eclipse
Believe it or not, the alignment of earth, moon and sun has caused the postponements of numerous games of football over the years. Although not always for the reasons you might think. Football stadia with floodlights are immune to a total eclipse. Yes, it’s no doubt a strange environment to be in when darkness falls, but play can continue nonetheless. However, for Torquay United in 1999, there were other challenges posed by the celestial event.
Parts of the south coast of England were the only locations in the country that experienced ‘totality’, which is where the sun is completely obscured by the moon – not even a tiny slither peaked out. As such, thousands of punters headed for cities like Torquay for a better look at the once-in-a-lifetime event… through the safety of their special glasses, of course.
Devonshire Police panicked, fearing for the safety of the influx of tourists, and so they forced the abandonment of the Gulls’ League Cup first round tie with Portsmouth on that fateful day to free up some spare officers. It was finally played a week later, with the grim 0-0 draw confirmation that neither totality nor total football were on display at Torquay’s Plainmoor home.
Fungal Flop
Football fans sit through the summer months with fevered anticipation at the return of domestic football, like the proverbial kid at Christmas. When a club’s curtain-raiser for the new campaign is postponed it naturally causes mass frustration. And when the reason is as bizarre as Celta Vigo’s for calling off their maiden La Liga contest with Osasuna in 2026/27, you can only have sympathy for the fans affected.
Incredibly, a fungal disease had infiltrated the pitch at Celta’s Estadio de Balaidos, causing sections of the grass to die out completely. The Spaniards called in the specialists to eradicate the problem, and in the days ahead of the new campaign it was looking increasingly promising that the contest with Osasuna would actually go ahead.
But with Spain hit by yet another heatwave in August, the work to prepare the surface had experienced an ‘adverse effect’, with Celta left with no choice but to cancel the fixture. They’ll have to find a solution to their fungal frailty smartish: Estadio de Balaidos is on the proposed list of host stadia for the World Cup in 2030.
Madonna’s Moment in Marseille
Football stadiums hosting music concerts is nothing new. Usually, they wait until the summer or a gap in the fixture list – an international break, for example – before allowing their hallowed turf to be disturbed by a pop singer or two. Not Marseille. Madonna was touring her latest album in France back in 2009, and needed suitably sized venues to welcome her huge stage set-up.
A few clubs baulked at the idea, but Marseille – perhaps seeking a cash injection – decided to let the evergreen music ace play at their Stade Velodrome home. However, trouble was afoot. The giant stage collapsed, tragically killing two workers and injuring many more.
Unsurprisingly, Madonna cancelled her show and took the time to meet grieving families and visit the injured workers in hospital. A criminal investigation, meanwhile, was undertaken at the venue that ultimately led to Marseille’s game with Lille being cancelled.
Lights Out for Scotland
Just when are a set of floodlights not bright enough? That has to be an objective thing, surely. But Scotland, playing a key World Cup qualifier against Estonia in 1996, were adamant that the temporary lights in the Kadriorg Stadium in Tallinn weren’t bright enough. FIFA allowed the kick-off time to be changed as a result, switching the action from the evening to a 3pm start instead.
But Estonia weren’t happy. They were adamant that the lights were fine and furious that the afternoon kick-off time meant that they would lose out on TV revenue. They simply boycotted the game. Scotland, meanwhile, turned up at the Kadriorg Stadium at the appointed hour, put their kit on, made their way onto the pitch and even kicked off.
The referee blew his whistle and abandoned the game, with the Scots assuming they would be handed a 3-0 win by default, as was the law at the time. Alas, FIFA decided that the game should be replayed at a neutral venue, with the two sides playing out a 0-0 draw in Monaco several months later.
Off the Menu
There has been a few outbreaks of food poisoning that have derailed football over the years – including the infamous ‘Lasagna-gate’, where ten Tottenham players that had eaten together at the team hotel were downed by the dodgy pasta dish ahead of a crunch clash with West Ham.
But one outbreak of dicky tummy back in 1963 saw a La Liga game between Real Betis and Valencia postponed when the referee and one of his linesmen were struck down by food poisoning after eating together ahead of the match. League officials frantically sought a set of replacement officials and eventually found them… only for the hapless duo to get stuck in traffic and miss the kick-off, which of course meant an automatic postponement. Stick to toast and ready salted crisps next time, lads…
