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Lotte to play Dortmund in Osnabrueck on March 14

Chuck Penfold SID
March 3, 2017

The DFB has confirmed that the Cup quarterfinal between Lotte and Dortmund, which was called off due to an unplayable pitch, is to be played on March 14. However, it won't be played in Lotte, but Osnabrueck instead.

Lotte SF Lotte - Borussia Dortmund
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/G. Kirchner

The German football association (DFB) has confirmed that the German Cup quarterfinal match between the third-tier club and the Bundesliga giants will be played in Osnabrueck on March 14. Due to the fact that this happens to be a Champions League night, the DFB had to ask for UEFA's permission for the game to be played. UEFA agreed - with the proviso that the match must not clash with the Champions League, which means that it kickoff will be at 18:30 CET.

There had already been speculation shortly after Tuesday evening's contest was called off that this would be the date, simply due to Dortmund's busy schedule - BVB play the second leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie with Benfica next Wednesday. The March 14 date means that Lotte's third division matches on March 12 and March 15 will have to be rescheduled.

Lotte had been keen to play the home match at its Frimo Stadium, however Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke called on Tuesday night for it to be played at a different location.

Felix Brych (second from left) informs Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke of his decision to call off the matchImage: Getty Images/Bongarts/M. Rose

"We need to consider whether it is worth the risk of trying (to play) here again," Watzke said. "It could all go wrong again in two weeks' time. At some point we will run out of possible dates."

Referee Felix Brych called off Tuesday's match 45 minutes before he was to blow the whistle for the opening kickoff, after 15 minutes of heavy sleet had rendered the pitch soggy and muddy - and his estimation, unplayable. He explained that the state of the pitch would have posed a hazard to the health of the players, adding that officials from both clubs had agreed with his decision. Many fans, particularly from Dortmund, were unhappy with the late timing of the decision not to play.

The winner of the March 14 contest will face Bayern Munich in the semifinals. The other semifinal matchup will see Eintracht Frankfurt travel to Borussia Mönchengladbach.  The semifinals are to be played on 25 and 26 April.

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