WASHINGTON (AP) -- Saturday night's game between the Kansas City Wizards and D.C. United was called after a scoreless first half because four banks of lights were dark at RFK Stadium.

Under MLS rules, the game is official because at least one half was played. United president Kevin Payne, a member of the league's competition committee, said he will appeal the 0-0 tie because he doesn't remember the league passing a rule declaring a game valid after one half.

"I'm going to appeal it," Payne said. "If the match is not replayed, we will honor these tickets at a future match."

RFK Stadium, built in 1961, has eight banks of lights, and half of them -- all on the same side of the field -- were not functioning all game. But since the first half was played in evening sunlight and dusk, they had no effect.

At the start of the second half, one half of the field was distinctly more shadowed than the other. Referee Marcel Yonan made the decision not to resume the game because of concerns about player safety.

Officials then announced there would be a five-minute delay. One hour later, the game was called at 9:37 p.m.

"We waited until the electrician couldn't get it fixed," Payne said.

At 10:30 p.m., when nearly all the 21,035 fans had departed, all the lights finally came back on.

John Ertmann, an MLS executive vice president and the league's chief legal officer, confirmed the result would be official. He also said the rules mandated a minimum 20-minute wait before calling the game, with no maximum time stipulated.

The outage could speed the push for a new soccer-only stadium to replace RFK, which has also been the site of fan violence at some United games.

Neville Waters, marketing director for the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission, which operates the stadium, said such a power outage had not happened before "in the 39 years the stadium has been opened."

"Maybe it was the karma of the season," said Waters, referring to United's losing record.

The result gives United (3-9-3) a modest three-game unbeaten streak -- a win and two ties -- after the worst start in team history. They dominated the first half, outshooting the Wizards 8-3, including 5-1 in shots on goal.

Tony Meola got credit for his league-leading 10th shutout for just 45 minutes' work for the Wizards (10-1-3).

The long delay before the game was called angered many fans, who said there were no announcements made for some 55 minutes to inform them of the situation.

"We are very frustrated," Mark Brown of Arlington, Va., said shortly before the game was called. "They should just level with us. We can't sit here all night."