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It was still possible to warm up, but then the fog became thicker and thicker
Photo: RADOVAN STOKLASA / REUTERS
1. FC Köln's Conference League game at Czech club 1. FC Slovácko was called off after just six minutes of play due to heavy fog.
That was decided by the referee team after visibility had dropped to zero.
The fog caused trouble even before kick-off, and the kick-off was postponed by 75 minutes.
In the hour before the scheduled kick-off, visibility in the small stadium in Uherske Hradiste had deteriorated extremely.
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 kick-off was then postponed again.
Koln are currently third in Group D and need a win in the last away game of the group stage.
The game is to be made up for on Friday at 1 p.m.
The calendar doesn't give many other alternative dates either: Coach Steffen Baumgart's team has to play TSG Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on Sunday, and next Thursday the last group game of the Conference League against OGC Nice is scheduled.
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 Cologne 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, that was audible even before kick-off.
kjo/dpa
