Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter
The delay is one hour and counting now. There is still no communication to us in the stadium about when the match restarts.
The Maresca-Palmer critics are way too harsh. He scored 4 goals in a first half masterful performance under Maresca. He recently got a MOTM in a European final. Relax, he’s 23.
Jake, Selsey
Chelsea are 1-0 up with four minutes to go! Not sure that’s a good deal.
Chelsea and Benfica coach should play rock, paper and scissors to determine the winner.
Joseph
It’s been 50 minutes since the players were taken off now.
We have just heard it could be another 30 minutes or more because there is still lightning.
I think it’s more that people didn’t realise they stop a game for half an hour if there’s a storm within a 10-mile radius.
It’s been funny watching folks back home (and FIFA, apparently) realize that North America gets both hot and stormy in the summer.
Aaron, an expat in Canada
Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter
Local thunderstorms are commonplace in the local Charlotte area and kickstarts a ‘seek cover protocol’ which locals are used to.
Every time lightning strikes the local area within a 10-mile radius the clock for a restart was reset by a further 30 minutes.
However, this is not something the majority of the football audience or the players involved in the match are used to – and Chelsea looked furious when dragged off.
Getty Images
Perhaps they should bring the covers on if it rains at the World Cup then the ref can inspect the surface before a resumption
Andy, Reading
It’s sad to see Cole Palmer being so restricted by Enzo Maresca’s tactics and style of play. He plays like someone who has had his soul ripped out.
Anon
This will be crazy if this is happening at the proper World Cup next summer.
Getty Images
Do they really need to warm up for 20 minutes to play another four minutes?
That’s what I – a man who is hoping his shift will be finished soon after full-time – have to say.
Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter
The two teams are expected to begin warming up at 6.25pm (11.25pm BST) with the aim to restart play at 6.45pm (11.45pm BST).
However, this could still change should lightning hit the area of Charlotte or the surrounding 10-mile radius due to the local safety protocols.
Reece James’ goal is the fifth scored direct from a free-kick at this Fifa Club World Cup.
Decent performance by Chelsea and world class goal but glaring lack of quality in final third same as last season. Palmer a shadow of player he was 6 months ago. Man needs a month off.
Andrew, Exeter
With the game being suspended because of the weather, it seems this is what we’ve got to look forward to during the World Cup next year.
Marvin, Bangor
Reuters
A weird one for Benfica’s Joao Veloso, who was brought on a few seconds before the game was paused.
It is only his second game for the club, he turned 20 two days ago – and he didn’t even touch the ball before the players were taken off.
The problem isn’t that the games are being played in the US..it is that too many are being played on the East Coast…65 and cloudy here in Seattle… just saying.
Anon
Reuters
Fifa says: “Due to adverse weather conditions in Charlotte, including the risk of lightning in the vicinity of Bank of America Stadium, the FIFA Club World Cup match between SL Benfica and Chelsea FC has been suspended. A 30-minute break has been foreseen.
“FIFA will follow the established safety protocols, and the match will resume as soon as it’s safe to do so.”
Told my young son he could stay up until the end of the game, might have shot myself in the foot here
Mike, Kettering
Match report to appear here.
