HSV vs. Leverkusen postponed at short notice

The German Football League (DFL) has postponed Hamburger SV’s Bundesliga home fixture against Bayer Leverkusen at short notice on Tuesday evening. The matchday 17 encounter was called off due to structural safety concerns caused by extreme thawing conditions.

Snow and ice clearance work in and around Volksparkstadion has been carried out continuously, day and night, since the middle of last week. Even considering the black ice of yesterday, several specialist companies worked to ensure safe access routes and removed snow and ice from pylons, roof edges and concourse areas in order to make the match possible.

The situation changed in the late afternoon on Tuesday due to the extreme thaw. Water accumulated beneath the roof membrane in several areas of the stadium and was unable to drain away, resulting in significant point loads. A structural engineer called in to assess the situation classified it as a safety risk. As a result, and in consultation with the DFL and the local safety authorities, the decision was taken to postpone the match.

The safety of every person visiting the stadium, the teams and officials, stadium staff, and all other personnel was the overriding priority in this decision. Information regarding a rescheduled fixture date and ticket arrangements will be communicated in the coming days.