Pohang Steel Yard to Host No Korea Cup Matches Following Concrete Falling Incident

The home stadium of Pohang Steelers, where a piece of stone fell from the spectator stand ceiling during a recent match, is set to undergo a comprehensive safety inspection.

As a result, the upcoming Korea Cup home match will be held at a venue other than the Steel Yard.

The Pohang club announced today (August 13), "Following an incident during the home match held at the Steel Yard on the 8th where a piece of concrete fell onto a spectator table, we have decided to conduct a comprehensive safety inspection of all facilities for the safety of our fans."

The club added, "We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and concern caused by this incident," and promised, "We will thoroughly implement measures based on the inspection results and continuously strengthen facility management so that fans can visit the stadium with peace of mind."

Consequently, the 2026-27 Korea Cup Round of 16 match against Jinju Citizen FC, scheduled for the 19th, cannot be hosted at the Steel Yard.

Pohang officials added, "Detailed matters such as the alternative venue and match schedule for the Korea Cup Round of 16 will be announced as soon as they are finalized through discussions with relevant organizations."

The hosting of upcoming KLeague 1 home matches will also be decided based on the inspection results and consultations with authorities.

The facility safety issue at the Steel Yard came to light during the K League 1 Round 22 match against Ulsan HD held on the 8th.

At the time, a piece of concrete from the ceiling of the away table seats fell, injuring the back of one spectator's hand.

The Steel Yard, a football-specific stadium, was completed in 1990.

Immediately after the accident, the club explained, "This incident occurred while we were sequentially inspecting and supplementing the entire section due to the aging of the stadium's concrete ceiling."

(Photo provided by Pohang Steelers, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.