Seoul: The top professional football league has instructed its clubs to conduct thorough safety inspections at their stadiums following a tragic incident at a baseball venue.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korea Professional Football League (K League) notified its 26 teams in K League 1 and K League 2 to reassess their stadiums for potential hazards and work with regional governments to ensure safety measures are in place. This directive was issued in response to a fatal accident at a Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) game over the weekend.
"Stadium safety is an essential element of the sports viewing experience," a K League official stated, emphasizing the critical nature of safety management and urging club officials to cooperate fully.
The K League also reminded broadcasting rights holders to prioritize safety in operating camera cranes and trucks at events.
This move by the K League follows a tragic accident on Saturday at Changwon NC Park, where a piece of aluminum panel fell and struck two fans, resulting in the death of one and injury to another. The KBO responded by canceling Sunday's game in Changwon and subsequently called off a series between the NC Dinos and SSG Landers as a mark of respect for the victim.
The NC Dinos conducted additional safety inspections of similar aluminum panels around the stadium to ensure they are securely attached. The team aims to complete these inspections by mid-week.
In further response, the KBO declared the first three days of April as a mourning period, canceling several games while other matches resumed with specific tributes, including a moment of silence and players wearing black ribbons to honor the deceased fan.