A storm with heavy gusts and heavy rain brought the stadium roof to collapse in the middle of the fourth division game of Brazilian football between the home team Imperatiz and 4 de Julho parts.
About two thirds of the metal construction suddenly slammed into the main stand of the Estadio Frei Epifanio d'Abadia in the northeastern state of Maranhão.
Video recordings made after the accident show stunned players standing next to rubble that fell onto the pitch.
Thanks to fortunate circumstances, there were no injuries.
The fact that nobody was harmed was also due to the corona pandemic.
The encounter, which was canceled after the incident when the score was 0-0 in the 76th minute, took place without spectators.
In addition, the part of the roof that was above the occupied reporter booths withstood the gusts of wind.
All people sitting on the substitute benches were also able to get to safety in good time before the meter-sized corrugated sheets fell down.
Images on the Internet show the stadium, which is located in the middle of the 260,000-strong city of Imperatriz, with a canopy on just one side of the pitch.
Much of this weather protection has now disappeared.
The Estadio Frei Epifanio d'Abadia was inaugurated in the 1960s and is expected to offer space for around 10,000 people.
In 2008 it was extensively modernized.
Another grandstand was built and the seating capacity expanded.
Since then it has also had an automated irrigation system.
joe / sid