TOYOTA (Japan): An earthquake rattled the Club World Cup in Japan on Wednesday, frightening players and fans from countries not used to violent seismic activity.

Several players took to Twitter after the 4.9-magnitude earthquake shook the Toyota Stadium and the nearby central city of Nagoya, where most of the teams and their supporters are staying.

It was a reminder of the ever-present danger of earthquakes in Japan, which was struck by a record 9.0-magnitude quake in March followed by a tsunami which smashed into the country's northeast, leaving 20,000 dead or missing.

Toyota was due to stage the semi-final clash between Brazilian giants Santos and Japanese champions Kashiwa Reysol later in the day, and FIFA said there would be no change to the schedule because of the earthquake.

"Tremendo tremendo (Wow wow)," Portuguese-speaking Santos defender Danilo, a Brazilian international, wrote on Twitter.

"Ke buen temblor!" ("What a big earthquake!" Abraham Dario Carreno, the Monterrey player, tweeted in Spanish. "Solo un susto" ("Just a scare", he added.

The earthquake struck at 1:01pm (0401 GMT), the US Geological Survey said, at a depth of 50 kilometres (30 miles), 36 kilometres from Nagoya, one of Japan's main cities.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

Public address systems at the Club World Cup have been informing spectators at games about what to do in the event of an earthquake.

Speaking before Wednesday's tremor, Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola, reflecting on the March 11 disaster, said: "When nature decides to revolt, there's nothing you can do about it.

"The only thing we can do is to try and anticipate adversity using technology and, afterwards, stay strong to try and come through ok," he told FIFA.com.

Gentleboby:

GOD's intervention ! GOD's intervention !! GOD's intervention !!!

in the whole world.

folahann:

Abeg make them change next year's venue. Arsenal players are very precious.

folahann:

Abeg make them change next year's venue. Arsenal players are very precious.

DamiKhojie:

To Japan a 4.9 earthquake is nothing it happens all the time. Plus their buildings are made to withstand much more, I'm sure they felt nothing more than a small shake.

Kx:

Hope no life was lost.
With all this natural disasters in Japan, traveling to Japan should be visa free.

folahann:

Abeg make them change next year's venue. Arsenal players are very precious.