A fan died in the Südkurve area during Schalke 04’s match against Bayer Leverkusen. His family now addresses words to the supporters.

At FC Schalke 04 last weekend, all coaches, players, club officials and fans experienced how quickly football can become a secondary matter: The death in the stands put the 0:3 against Bayer Leverkusen in the background, the medical emergency in the south curve suddenly made the previously loud Veltins Arena as quiet as a mouse.

Unfortunately, despite quick help, there was no rescue for the man who collapsed in the closing stages of the Bundesliga match. His family has now written an emotional letter to the Schalke club family thanking them for their support and sympathy.

The open letter to the Schalke community reads: “When my father and husband died last Saturday during the home game against Bayer Leverkusen, our world collapsed. At the same time, since then we have felt a huge wave of compassion and love from the club family, which fills and overwhelms us with great gratitude.”

Paramedics had quickly intervened last Saturday when the incident became known. Both Schalke 04 and Bayer Leverkusen fans showed tact and let the action on the pitch pass largely without sympathy.

The family of the deceased therefore wrote: “That is why we as a family would like to explicitly thank you all. Our thanks go not only to the many great first responders who tried everything on the spot to save the life of our father and husband. In the aftermath, expressions of sympathy and signs of support reached us through all possible channels. Thank you for that – all of it was and is a great sign of the community at Schalke.”

Deceased was a spectator at Schalke for 21 years

The deceased had been a fan of FC Schalke 04 for a long time. “For 21 years, our father and husband had his place in the Südkurve – every other week he watched his Schalke players there. Now it is no longer there and we mourn him very much. “