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Europa Conference League: Cologne game canceled due to fog

Dhe 1. FC Köln urgently needs victories in the Conference League – but didn’t even get the chance on Thursday evening: The important group game at Czech Cup winners 1. FC Slovácko had to be stopped after six minutes of play due to heavy fog, goals had not yet been scored . The kick-off was already postponed by 75 minutes.

According to UEFA regulations, the rest of the season should be made up for on the following day if possible. That will also happen. After the final whistle, FC Köln announced that the game would continue on Friday (1 p.m.).

In the hour before kick-off, scheduled for 18.45, visibility in the small stadium in Uherske Hradiste had deteriorated dramatically. The referee team therefore initially postponed the kick-off by 30 minutes, the teams warmed up on the pitch, but the fog didn’t clear.

Third in Group D

The entire square was not visible from the stands, and there was no clear view from one goal to the other. At 7:15 p.m., the start was again postponed by 45 minutes. In fact, visibility improved in the meantime, but it closed up again right after kick-off.

Koln are currently third in Group D and need a win in the last away game of the group stage. The calendar does not give many alternative dates. Coach Steffen Baumgart’s team has to play TSG Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on Sunday (7.30 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Bundesliga and on DAZN), and next Thursday the last group game in the Conference League against OGC Nice will take place.

For FC, it remains a turbulent return to the European Cup after five years: the start in Nice was overshadowed by serious riots before kick-off, and this game (1-1) also took place late. As a result, the European Football Union UEFA decided that the Cologne team was not allowed to sell away tickets for the games at Partizan Belgrade (0: 2) and FC Slovácko.

At least in the Czech Republic, numerous fans from Cologne were represented, they could also be heard through the fog – and showed humor: “Free beer for everyone” they demanded in chants before kick-off. The supporters never got to see a real football game.

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