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Statement from the board – S04 reject the possibility of Osnabrück game being moved
VfL Osnabrück announced on Tuesday (30/4) that the city of Osnabrück had issued a temporary order barring the use of their stadium after structural defects in the roof were identified. This therefore put S04’s away game on matchday 32 (4/5) in doubt. The club’s board is now demanding the integrity of the competition is maintained by sticking to the original date of the game, and has offered several alternative suggestions to prevent the game from being postponed.
In a letter addressed to the DFL’s board, which includes Dr. Marc Lenz and Dr. Steffen Merkel, Matthias Tillmann (CEO) and Christina Rühl-Hamers made the FC Schalke 04’s board’s stance clear on Wednesday (1/5). The club also wishes to be honest and keep fans and the public up to date.
The 2. Bundesliga is currently approaching the end of the season with just three matchdays left to play, matchdays that will decide both promotion and relegation – and thus the futures of several clubs. It is important for both the clubs and the league that the competition is fair during this period of the season in particular.
FC Schalke 04 believe the integrity of the competition is in acute danger following the temporary order barring the use of the Bremer Brücke after structural defects in the roof were identified, which could therefore see the game this weekend postponed. The Royal Blues do not believe the situation is a case of force majeure as the problems with the roof have been known for years, as VfL Osnabrück have stated themselves. FC Schalke 04 cannot understand why discussions on an alternative venue to ensure the game can be played on 4th May were not immediately started as soon as the club knew of the problems, or at least at the start of this week. It is also clear that the Royal Blues do not carry any responsibility for the current situation.
The club’s board therefore objects to the game being played at a later date. Postponing and then rescheduling the game for between matchdays 33 and 34 would result in a clear competitive disadvantage for S04, one that the board cannot accept. Some examples of the reasons why are: While other teams would only play once a week, the Knappen would have to play three games in eight days, and end the season with two consecutive away games. The sporting implications of this are clear – less time to recover, effectively no time for training and pre-match preparation and more travelling over the last two matchdays.
Schalke 04 immediately offered several suggestions of their own accord on Tuesday (30/4) to try and get the game played on Saturday (4/5), despite the temporary barring of the Bremer Brücke. The club initially spoke to representatives of the DFL and VfL Osnabrück’s board on the phone, before providing it all in writing. The Royal Blues suggested either that a) the game could be played with a small crowd or no crowd at all in Osnabrück (providing the authorities approved it in view of the security requirements), b) the match could be played at the VELTINS-Arena – with a small crowd or no crowd at all if necessary (and cost-neutral for Osnabrück), or c) the match could be played at a neutral venue (a ground in the two top flights with VAR installed).
The board believes that moving the game to a different ground is possible and sensible. A quick decision is vital in order for the necessary preparations to be made. FC Schalke 04 is available for discussions at any time. Should the game still not go ahead on Saturday, the club reserves all legal means to protect the interests of the club and its members.
