Soccer final temporarily stopped because of heat

BEIJING (AP) With the on-field temperature topping 107 degrees, the Olympic soccer final between Argentina and Nigeria on Saturday was stopped twice because of excessive heat at the Bird's Nest.

After an intervention by FIFA's chief medical officer, Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai took the rare step of halting play following a free kick in the 30th minute. The stoppage allowed players to cool off and drink water on the sidelines.

The game, which started at noon and was won 1-0 by Argentina, was delayed again for the same reason in the 70th minute. Each break lasted about two minutes.

"It was necessary to give the players a break," Jiri Dvorak, chief medical officer for soccer's governing body, told The Associated Press. "We are worried with heat stroke and other problems players may suffer in this kind of weather."

Dvorak was at the stadium specifically to monitor the heat and ensure safe conditions. He said the temperature reached 107.6 when he asked the referee to halt play.

He said FIFA doubled the medical staff for the game, and he told both teams to make sure players drank enough water at halftime and during the game to avoid dehydration.

Nigeria coach Samson Siasia said the game should not have been played in the middle of the day in such powerful heat.

"No team has actually played at noon since we started this tournament," he said. "It affected both countries and most players didn't perform to their level because of the heat. But we didn't make the rules. They said play the game at 12 o'clock which I don't think wasn't a good idea."

Argentina striker Sergio Aguero also complained.

"It was tough for everyone," he said. "It was hard to run around out there in this heat."

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