The start of the derby against Borussia Mönchengladbach was delayed due to the massive burning of flares and rockets by fans of 1. FC Köln.
Referee Deniz Aytekin whistled six minutes late because thick clouds of smoke severely impaired visibility in the stadium.
The Cologne fans had already sworn in the FC players after the warm-up, and the team gathered in front of the south curve.
The duel with Borussia is enormously important for FC – not just because of the rivalry, but also for sporting reasons. Cologne only got one point from the first seven games; coach Steffen Baumgart’s team was hoping for a breakthrough in the derby.