GUADALAJARA, Mexico - The Liga MX game between Atlas and Tigres in Guadalajara was suspended Friday because the big screen TV installed above the center circle in Estadio Jalisco was deemed to hang dangerously low.
The screen was supposed to be unveiled in mid-August, but that was pushed back to this Friday when the installation still appeared that it would potentially interfere with play and was judged a safety risk for this week-eight 2017 Apertura game.
"Our game against Tigres has been suspended," Atlas announced on the club's social networks. "We'll give out more information about the rescheduling of the game soon."
Acá en el Jalisco, haciendo fuerza para que se juegue... #VamosTigres
— Nahuel.I.Guzman (@PatonGuzman) September 9, 2017
🐯👍 pic.twitter.com/Z1KcqXKn6p
It was later announced by the league that the match will be made up during the November FIFA international window.
The Guadalajara municipal government tweeted that the decision had been made by Atlas, the Mexican federation and the officials, indicating that the height of the screen was problematic.
A full statement from Atlas suggested that there was a problem with the machine supposed to lift up the screen and that the club was "sorry for the inconvenience caused."
Fans were let into the stadium around 70 minutes before the game was due to kick off, but were removed 30 minutes later.
Tigres goalkeeper and Argentina international Nahuel Guzman joked on his Twitter account about "summoning the strength" to lift the screen.
Atlas vs Tigres suspended #ligamxeng pic.twitter.com/vj1MthP6rx
— Tom Marshall (@mexicoworldcup) September 9, 2017
The screen had been part of improvements to the a stadium that has twice hosted World Cup matches and is currently used by Atlas and second division team Leones Negros.
Article 60 of the Liga MX rules states that the disciplinary commission decides on whether a game was suspended because of forces out of the club's control or not. If it rules that it was down to the club -- in this case Atlas -- could be sanctioned.