Snowballs hold up Atletico game

Fans let fly with the white stuff at the Vincente Calderon Stadium

Snowball throwing halted Atletico Madrid's home match against Athletic Bilbao at the weekend.

The game was held up for a minute as fans took advantage of heavy snowfall in the Spanish capital to aim a barrage towards the visitors' goal on Sunday.

Referee Cesar Muniz Fernandez said: "The home fans threw numerous snowballs towards the Bilbao goal, some of them hitting the goalkeeper.

"In the fifth minute, I was forced to stop the game."

The game restarted after a message was put out over the stadium's public address system asking fans to desist.

The snowball throwing backfired on Atletico's fans, however, as Bilbao went on to win 3-2.

The players failed to see the funny side of the snow business, with seven bookings and a sending off for the hosts, and four yellow cards for the visitors.