‘Absolute disgrace’: LAFC coach criticizes MLS for playing in blizzard

Andrés Gómez had two goals and one assist to lead Real Salt Lake to a 3-0 win over Los Angeles FC in blizzard-like conditions in Sandy, Utah. Cristian Arango also scored as Real Salt Lake found the net three times in the first half.

The match was initially delayed two hours due to heavy wind and other weather concerns. Once it began, it was stopped just three minutes into the match due to lightning during a snowstorm. Play was delayed for nearly another hour.

“It was impossible conditions,” LAFC manager Steve Cherundolo said after the game. “I feel terrible for the players that we put them through this.”

By the time the match resumed, snow covered most of the turf and it continued to snow hard throughout the game. At half-time, workers shoveled away snow to make the center line, six-yard boxes and 18-yard boxes visible.

Major League Soccer chose to continue with the game rather than abandoning play.

By the midway point of the second half, visibility was a problem, despite officials switching to an orange ball.

With snow piling up, replacement referee Aleksandar Zhelyazkov was forced to carve lines on the field to indicate how far opposing players should be away from the ball on free-kicks.

“It was an absolute joke we had to play today. It was one of the worst professional sporting events I’ve ever seen in my life,” Cherundolo said. “The game could have and should have been called. In my opinion, it was an absolute disgrace we had to play today.”

LAFC’s goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was seen visibly shaking throughout the match, with his facial hair freezing and snow piling up on his head.

“It was just ridiculous, there’s no other way to put it,” Cherundolo added.