TIRANA: Real Madrid, who were reportedly paid 2.5 million euros to play an Albanian oil magnate’s team, were plunged into darkness after an embarrassing power cut at half-time on Wednesday.

The second half of the game against Gramozi Erseke started 90 minutes late after a blackout forced both sides back into the dressing room. An emergency generator was quickly installed before the Albanian football federation announced that the stadium director had been sacked for failing to guarantee the match passed off smoothly.

The Albanian socialist party condemned the incident. “Albania has been made a laughing stock,” said a party statement. Proceeds from the match, which Real won 2-1, were to be donated to the flood victims .