Osnabruck. This news comes as a surprise: The stadium in Lower Saxony was closed before FC Schalke’s game at VfL Osnabrück.
This is an unusual occurrence in German professional football. The VfL Osnabrück stadium has been closed by the authorities for the time being. The game against FC Schalke 04 next Saturday is in danger of being canceled.
“After a regular expert inspection of the roof structures last week, VfL Osnabrück was granted a temporary ban on use of the Bremen Bridge by the responsible authorities due to defects identified,” the Osnabrück-based company announced on Tuesday evening. What will happen next remains unclear at this point. It is therefore not yet clear whether the game against FC Schalke 04 can take place on Saturday afternoon.
Osnabrück – Schalke: Tickets remain valid
FC Schalke didn’t know anything more either, the miners announced on Tuesday evening. “The final decision as to whether the match on matchday 32 can take place as planned will ultimately be made by the German Football League (DFL) after official receipt of the official order,” said the club. Initially, however, all tickets remain valid, according to a published statement by VfL Osnabrück.
The stadium at Bremer Bridge is getting old.
© dpa | Friso Gentsch
In the fight to stay in the league, this game could be a decisive one for FC Schalke 04. With a win, the 2024/2025 second division season could be almost secured. Accordingly, those responsible are hoping for the event to take place on Saturday. “In terms of the competition and the sporting circumstances, we expect that the game can take place on Saturday as planned. It is currently not possible to seriously assess whether this is within the realm of possibility for Schalke 04. It is clear that the safety and health of everyone always has priority,” said the Royal Blues board.
Roof construction in Osnabrück causes problems
The problem with the stadium at Bremer Brücke has been known for a long time, write those responsible at VfL Osnabrück. That’s why there are regular exams. “The condition of the so-called glued timber beams of the east curve no longer allows the stadium to be used in its current form without taking the necessary measures. In order to ensure the safety of all stadium visitors and employees, the responsible authorities have therefore issued a corresponding ban on use of the entire stadium,” explained Dr. Michael Welling, commercial Managing director of VfL Osnabrück now.