Fire breaks out at Andorra stadium ahead of England’s World Cup qualifier

England’s World Cup qualifier in Andorra will go ahead despite a spectacular fire at the stadium on the eve of the game.

The Three Lions are in the Pyrenees to take on the side ranked 156th in the world and trained at the Estadi Nacional on Friday lunchtime, before Gareth Southgate and stand-in skipper Kieran Trippier faced the media.

Shortly after England left the 3,300-capacity stadium a fire broke out on the TV gantry, with black smoke filling the air as flames ripped through the structure in Andorra la Vella.

Stadium staff tried to get the blaze under control with sprinklers before the fire brigade arrived, with one onlooker telling the PA news agency that welders had been working there when the fire started.

The Football Association was initially unsure whether there would be an impact on Saturday evening’s qualifier, but the Andorran Football Federation confirmed the match is unaffected by the fire.

A spokesperson for the governing body said: “As we all know there has been a small accident and a fire.

“No personal harm has been reported, only material damages and the schedule will continue as foreseen. No changes there (with) press conference and training.

“There has been an official statement given by our minister of sport and the president of the federation. The match will be played.”

Part of the dugout melted and the fourth official shelter was destroyed, as was the video assistant referee’s monitor.

The walls were blackened and there was debris on a part of the much-discussed artificial surface.