Burnley have been forced to evacuate a section of supporters during the club’s home match against Wolverhampton Wanderers due to safety concerns with the stadium roof.
Supporters in the lower tier of the Jimmy McIlroy Stand at Turf Moor had to be relocated during the first half of Burnley’s Premier League clash on Tuesday night.
A club statement was posted on social media 20 minutes into the game explaining the issue.
“Burnley fans are in the process of being moved from a section of the Jimmy McIlroy stand due to current safety concerns with the roof,” said the club. “We thank supporters for their co-operation and patience while we do this.”
Pictures on social media appeared to show a piece of roof cladding dangling loose, while stewards cleared fans from the seats immediately beneath the issue.
Lancashire Police officers worked alongside stadium staff to escort fans from block 7 in the lower tier of the stand to club’s FanZone, where supporters were forced to follow the action on a big screen with no direct view of the pitch.
An announcement made over the ground’s PA system said the block closure would remain in place for the entirety of the game.
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Andrew Jones is a Staff Writer for The Athletic covering Burnley FC and Liverpool FC. Having graduated from the University of Central Lancashire with a First Class Honours Degree in Sports Journalism, Andrew has had written work published for the Liverpool Echo, Chelsea FC and Preston North End. Follow Andy on Twitter @adjones_journo
