Gelsenkirchen.
Numerous Schalke fans tore pieces out of the arena lawn as a souvenir of the promotion. A new playing surface is needed for the new season
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One of the victims of Schalke 04’s promotion to the Bundesliga was definitely the pitch in the arena. When hundreds of fans stormed onto the field after the final whistle to celebrate with the team, many supporters tore up pieces of the pitch as a souvenir of the big break in promotion.
The playing surface of the stadium looks correspondingly fragmented today – almost a week after the last home game of the second division season. Large pieces of the lawn are sometimes missing, especially on the lines. In these places there is more brown than green.
Schalke orders a new lawn
“There was a gag recently that a lot of people gave away a piece of the lawn for Mother’s Day,” jokes Schalke’s sports director Rouven Schröder on Friday at a press conference before the away game at 1. FC Nürnberg (Sunday, 3.30 p.m. / Sky). Schalke icon Youri Mulder also secured a piece of the green on Saturday evening to plant it in his garden at home, as he revealed to the WAZ.
The fact that some parts of the green have even been offered for sale on eBay classifieds in the past few days also shows that pieces of the ascent lawn are quite popular.
Because of this damage, Schalke needs a new pitch. “We have ordered a new pitch so that we will have a good playing surface again in the coming season,” explains Schröder. The 46-year-old assures that there won’t be a “patchwork” for the Gelsenkirchen team in the coming season. A new lawn costs around 100,000 euros.
It is said that what will happen to the battered rest of the “ascent lawn” is still open. Interim coach Mike Büskens has an idea: “If we no longer need the old one, we can move it to my garden,” he said with a grin.
More articles from this category can be found here: Schalke 04
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