Vienna, July 15 (DPA) A thunderbolt hurt 25 Austrian football players and spectators when it struck during a match Tuesday evening, the rescue service in the town of Leoben said.

The local practice game ended abruptly as people were thrown to the ground by the lightning's shock wave or were hurt by the electrical field.

No one was directly struck, so there were no serious injuries, Red Cross official Martin Holler said. Most of the casualties were players training at the local police football club in the town in Styria province.

The sky was cloudy before the lightning strike, which was followed by a thunderstorm.