Safety issues at football stadium prompts match relocation

Seoul, August 13 (Yonhap) — A national football tournament match has been relocated away from a 36-year-old stadium in Pohang, South Korea, following safety concerns, according to officials on Thursday. The K League 1 club Pohang Steelers revealed that their home ground, Pohang Steel Yard, will undergo extensive safety checks and will not be hosting the round of 16 match against Jinju Citizen FC at the Korea Cup tournament next Wednesday.

This decision came after a concrete fragment fell from the ceiling during a K League 1 match last Saturday, injuring a fan. The injured individual sustained a minor hand injury but chose to finish the match in another part of the stadium rather than seeking further medical attention at a nearby hospital. Pohang Steelers expressed regret for the inconvenience and concern caused by the incident and vowed to implement all necessary safety measures following the inspections.

The club also stated that the venue for the match and future K League 1 games will be decided after consultations with the appropriate authorities. The stadium, which opened in 1990, had been undergoing safety evaluations on its concrete ceilings during the past few days when the incident happened.