The home game of the second division bottom team VfL Osnabrück against FC Schalke 04 on Saturday is about to be canceled due to structural defects in the roof structure of the stadium. The responsible authorities in the Lower Saxony city have temporarily banned the use of the football arena, as the club announced on Tuesday evening.
According to managing director Michael Welling, VfL is doing everything it can to “examine various structural measures and implement them so that we can catch up on the bridge day against Schalke as quickly as possible and also play the last home game against Hertha BSC at the Bremer Bridge as usual.” The game against Hertha BSC is scheduled to take place on May 19th.
VfL informed the German Football League (DFL) and Schalke about the problem. The DFL will only make a decision about the cancellation once the cease-and-desist order has been submitted in writing and has been checked. So far, the city has only blocked the stadium verbally. Based on the DFL decision, the club wants to address season ticket holders and ticket buyers. First of all, all tickets are still valid.
According to VfL, the defects were found during a regular inspection last week. The problems in the more than 90-year-old venue are related to wooden beams, “which require immediate action due to the problematic nature of some of the beams”. According to the experts, it would be impossible to use the east curve for the two home games without immediate measures.
VfL Osnabrück is in last place in the table. With three games remaining before the end of the season and seven points away from the relegation zone, the club has little chance of averting relegation.