Fire at Andorra's stadium a day before England match
ANDORRA (AP) - A fire broke out at Andorra's national stadium on Friday, a day before England is set to visit the tiny nation to play a World Cup qualifier.
The government of Andorra said the blaze was put out by firefighters not long after it started.
The president of the Andorran Football Association, Félix Ãlvarez, said they were hoping the incident would not stop the game from going ahead as planned.
'œThe main thing is that there weren't casualties or injuries," Ãlvarez said. "There is only material damage. We are working on it so the game can be played tomorrow. Planning continues same as before.'ť
The fire consumed a lower part of the stadium very close to the touchline near midfield between the two dugouts. Billowing dark smoke streamed up from red flames that burned under a platform for television cameras.
England had just trained on the artificial surface and left when they fire started.
The national stadium for the principality tucked in the Pyrenees Mountains between Spain and France can hold 3,300 spectators.
England is to play at Andorra on Saturday in Group I of Europe's World Cup qualifying. England leads the group, with Andorra second to last.
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