After two delays due to heavy fog, 1. FC Köln's game in the European Conference League at 1. FC Slovacko in the Czech Republic is abandoned. Shortly after the kick-off, which was delayed by 75 minutes, visibility deteriorated again so much that referee Giorgi Kruaschwilli called off the game. Now it's time to play on Friday.
1. FC Köln urgently needs victories in the Conference League - but didn't even get the chance: The important group game at Czech Cup winners 1. FC Slovacko 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.
The game will be rescheduled for tomorrow, Friday, at 1 p.m., UEFA announced. The game will not be restarted from the start, but will continue from the seventh minute in accordance with UEFA regulations.
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. 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 then postponed again 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 - eventually - 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. / 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 the kick-off, and this game (1-1) also took place late. As a result, the European Football Union UEFA decided that Cologne could not sell away tickets for the games at Partizan Belgrade (0: 2) and FC Slovacko.
At least in the Czech Republic, numerous fans from Cologne were still represented, they could also be heard through the fog - and showed gallows humor: "Free beer for everyone" they demanded in chants before kick-off. The supporters never got to see a real football game.
