Footy fan to the grave

A German football club plans to open a cemetery next to its stadium so that die-hard fans can rest in peace alongside their favourite team.

Hamburg SV, a Bundesliga side from the northern port city, aims to open the graveyard some 50 feet from the stadium's main entrance, said deputy chairman Christian Reichert.

"For a large number of people, it's important to be close to the club after their lives are over," he said.

"The cemetery will have the look of a small, open stadium."

With 42,000 registered supporters at the club and just 500 graves up for grabs, competition for places promises to be fierce. Officials have already begun taking reservations.

"I don't know of any other place in Germany where this is done, so it's a unique opportunity for our fans," Mr Reichert said, adding that teams like England's Everton FC have been known to inter fans' ashes around playing fields.