AN ICONIC World Cup stadium is set to be demolished and replaced by a smaller ground.
The plans to improve the venue, which can hold 50,000 fans, has been hit by financial challenges.
Reports from German outlet Bild claim there is an £83million black hole in funding.
Nuremberg’s Max-Morlock-Stadion is now set to be knocked down and a new ground built.
Plans to increase the capacity of the arena have been ditched and features like an underground car park are off the table.
A capacity of between 35,000 to 45,000 is expected at the new ground.
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The stadium is owned by Nuremberg council and parliamentary chief Andreas Krieglstein insists they can only construct a venue “viable for the city budget”.
Treasurer Thorsten Brehm earlier this week called the initial figures “overambitious” and they are now “planning conservatively”.
The Max-Morlock-Stadion is the home of Bundesliga 2 club Nuremberg.
It also hosted five 2006 World Cup matches, including England’s 2-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago, and the infamous round of 16 clash between Portugal and Holland.
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Dubbed the “Battle of Nuremberg”, the referee sent off two players from each team and dished out a record-breaking 16 yellow cards.
Cristiano Ronaldo was subbed off injured in the first-half after a horror tackle from Khalid Boulahrouz.
The Max-Morlock-Stadion also played host to six matches at the 1972 Olympics and the European Cup Winners’ Cup final in 1967 as Bayern Munich beat Rangers.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
