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The bizarre reason why man delayed Euro 2024 match by climbing onto the stadium roof during storm

The bizarre reason why man delayed Euro 2024 match by climbing onto the stadium roof during storm

A man was arrested at gunpoint after climbing onto the stadium roof.

The reason why a man interrupted a match at Euro 2024 by climbing onto the stadium roof has been revealed, and it is bizarre.

On Saturday Germany beat Denmark 2-0 to book a place in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024, but the scoreline only tells half of the story.

The round-of-16 tie was suspended during the first half due to a lighting storm in the surrounding area, with referee Michael Oliver taking the players of the pitch for 23 minutes.

Once the game resumed, Denmark were left raging after VAR disallowed what they thought was the opening goal before awarding Germany a penalty for a contentious handball.

Kai Havertz converted the penalty before Jamal Musiala killed the game with a superb solo effort.

The drama didn't end there though. The match was briefly paused during the second half when supporters and players spotting a man climbing above them up in the rafters of Dortmund's Westfalenstadion.

The match paused for a moment while Oliver and team captains Kaspar Schmeichel and Ilkay Gundogan were informed about the situation after security staff was spotted up in the rafters.

Dortmund Police later confirmed that a man climbed onto the stadium roof at 10:27pm local time, and that a police helicopter and drones were deployed to provide visuals on the incident.

Videos posted on social media showed a man wearing a dark hoodie and a face covering while carrying a backpack, walking along a gangway before climbing over a barrier and into the structure of the roof.

Armed special forces police officers arrived and ordered the man - later confirmed as a 21-year-old from Osnabruck - down before arresting him.

In a statement on Sunday, Dortmund Police revealed the reason why the man climbed onto the roof.

"[He] wanted to take photos on the roof of the stadium, as he had done elsewhere in Germany," a police statement read.

"He was carrying camera equipment in a backpack. At no point was there any danger to other people in the stadium. The Dortmund police are currently ruling out a political motivation."

The 21-year-old has now been charged with trespassing and has been released from police custody while an investigation takes place.

Dortmund Police added: "The European Football Association and the Dortmund police will follow up on this situation and investigate how the accused was able to enter the stadium unhindered and get onto the roof."

Featured Image Credit: X/MailSport & Getty

Topics: Euro 2024, Germany, Denmark, VAR, Football