Rats attacked the stadium in Geneva: World Cup qualifying match at risk.

According to The Sun: The World Cup qualifying match may be postponed due to a rat infestation at the stadium where it is scheduled.

Infection at the Stadium

Switzerland is set to meet Sweden in a qualifying match on November 15 at Stade de Geneve.

However, the pitch, which is home to the Swiss club Servette, has become a hotspot for pests, according to Tribune de Geneve.

Rats are digging hundreds of holes, chewing on electrical wires, and damaging advertising boards.

Swiss turf consultant Pierre-Yves Bovigny noted: “I have been in this job for over 20 years, and I have never seen rats attacking a pitch in Switzerland. This is a worrying situation for the federation.”

He also added: “I hope the measures against rats will work. It may not prevent the Switzerland - Sweden match, but we are closely monitoring the situation.”

Media have shown that the pitch at the Geneva stadium is covered in holes, more than the holes in Swiss cheese.

Maintenance Problems

The turf management company Realsport is responsible for the arena, which seats 30,000 spectators.

Director Adrien Wabr noted: “Every morning we find holes dug by rats. Filling them and reseeding the pitch takes two hours of our work.”

He added: “I see rats on the stadium every day. It's not only damaging, but also unpleasant.”

“We have traps set all over the pitch and in the storage rooms. We need to protect our supplies,” - he reported.

Imad Fattal, president of the stadium fund, confirmed that they have hired a pest control company to address the issue.

He stated: “We take this seriously and are doing everything we can to prevent the spread of rats in the stadium.”

“We have called on FC Servette and the company that manages their catering facilities to clean up after matches and not leave food behind.”

Pest problems are also observed in other clubs: “Manchester United” faced mice, and in January a rat even ran across the pitch during a match at Old Trafford.

In Spain, the club Elche banned its fans from eating sunflower seeds in May as it was causing a rat infestation at the stadium.

This situation demonstrates how important it is for sports venues to maintain proper hygiene and safety standards. If measures are not taken, it is possible that matches of this level could be at risk due to unforeseen circumstances like a pest infestation. It is vital for organizers to pay attention to such issues and take steps to resolve them to ensure the safety of players and fans.