VfL Bochum plays host to SC Freiburg on Saturday, who want to enforce the smoking ban in their own stadium in the future with the help of an unusual measure.

When VfL Bochum plays host to SC Freiburg after the international break (Saturday, 3:30 p.m., RS-Liveticker), numerous fans from the Ruhr area will surely support the team in Breisgau. Around 2000 guests are expected.

What smoking supporters of the Bochum should know: There is a smoking ban in effect throughout Freiburg’s Europa Park Stadium. In order to be able to enforce this even more consistently in the future, the SCF is now launching an unusual measure.

In the future, spectators who disregard the smoking ban in the stands will be given yellow cards – and will see red if they violate the ban again. This would be tantamount to a stadium ban. “Especially in the seating stands, there is hardly any way to avoid the smoke from smoking seat neighbors,” Freiburg explained in a statement.

“Please be considerate of non-smokers, use the areas in the stadium that are open for smoking, especially in circulation – and don’t trade yourself a ticket.” Whether the cards are to be distributed by stewards or who is otherwise responsible, the sports club left open.

Regardless, in sporting terms, the trip to southwestern Germany has rarely been worth it for Bochum fans in the past. VfL won one of the past ten games in Freiburg – in the 2015/16 second division season (3:1).

In the current season, coach Christian Streich’s team got off to a start with ups and downs. They lost 0:3 at FC Bayern before the international break, and the subsequent interruption came in handy due to personnel problems.

Players such as ex-Bochum player Michael Gregoritsch and Lucas Höler are fit again, and Nicolas Höfler has also served his red ban. “We now have more options again,” Streich was pleased to say at Thursday’s press conference. “The players who were with the national team are healthy. We are in a better position than before the Bayern game. “