A fire broke out in the locker room area of St. Jakob-Park in Basel on Friday evening, causing considerable property damage. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident. The smoke was so heavy that the fire department had to carry out extensive smoke removal operations.
The fire destroyed the entire changing room area of FC Basel’s first team, including all player and coaching equipment as well as technical and medical supplies. As a result, FC Basel was unable to play their scheduled away match against FC Thun. The stadium’s catacombs were officially sealed, leaving no usable match or medical equipment available.
The fire damage is estimated at millions. To continue training, FC Basel is relying on the support of the Nachwuchscampus Foundation. There, the team, including former Bayern Munich star Xherdan Shaqiri, can use the sports facilities and access the necessary equipment.