The Bundesliga game, which VfL Bochum won 1-0 against VfB Stuttgart on Saturday, was about to be canceled during the break. The reason was a meter-long banner (“Ultras Cannstatter Kurve”) that Stuttgart fans had attached to the fence that separates their guest stand block from the field. VfL Bochum stated that this fence should not be closed because gates in this fence act as an escape and rescue route into the interior. This will be explained to each visiting club in writing well before the respective game. Because the Stuttgart fans were apparently not ready to take down the banner again, the start of the second half was delayed by 41 minutes. The half-time break therefore lasted 56 minutes. Then everyone involved agreed on a compromise in order to be able to finish the game. The loosened banner was allowed to remain hanging after it was checked that the escape gates could still be opened in an emergency.
41 minute interruption: Why the game was almost canceled in Bochum – Sport
