'Stonefall Accident' Aftermath: Pohang Home Match at Pohang Steel Yard Cancelled Indefinitely; Subsequent Matches Also Denied

*This content was translated by AI.

The Korea Professional Football League has decided not to permit K League matches scheduled at Pohang Steelers' home stadium, Pohang Steel Yard, following an accident in which part of the concrete ceiling of the spectator seating area fell. Fortunately, a spectator sitting in the stands suffered only minor injuries to the back of their hand; however, the incident could have easily led to a far more serious accident.

In response, the league visited the site directly to inspect the stadium facilities and safety conditions, issuing a notice on the 14th that home matches would be banned "until safety is ensured." Without setting a specific deadline, the league declared that no K League matches will be permitted at Pohang Steel Yard until it is definitively confirmed that safety issues related to the stadium facilities are fully resolved.

Initially, the league requested that the Pohang club secure an alternative venue, but this too fell through. Consequently, two K League matches originally scheduled for August at Pohang Steel Yard were transferred to the visiting teams' home rights. The match against Bucheon FC on the 22nd and the game versus Gangwon FC on the 30th will be held at Bucheon Sports Complex and Gangneung High1 Resort Arena, respectively. The Korea Cup Round of 16 match against Jinju Citizen Football Club, originally scheduled for the 19th, will instead be played in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, approximately 250 kilometers away—home to Jeonnam Dragons, a club under the same parent company, at the Gwangyang Dedicated Soccer Stadium.

The issue lies in the fact that immediately after visiting the site and issuing the ban on home matches, the league faces a situation where concrete fell from the ceiling, nearly causing a major accident—a problem that cannot be easily or quickly resolved. There is no room to rush for the sake of resuming home matches, nor can the league apply its standards leniently to allow home games again. Home matches will only be reconsidered after thorough and meticulous inspections confirm that safety issues are definitively addressed.

Coincidentally, the Pohang squad, which played 10 consecutive away matches during the first half of the season due to turf problems at their home stadium, now faces an unavoidable grueling schedule due to safety concerns at their venue. Starting with the away match against Gwangju FC on the 15th, games are scheduled in Gwangyang (neutral), Bucheon, Jeju, Gangneung, and Jeonju. If safety issues are not definitively resolved, the nightmare of consecutive away matches could extend into next month or even later.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.