BERLIN: Schalke 04 have been knocked out of the German major leagues after 30 years in the Bundesliga and nearly 10 years to qualify for the Champions League semi-finals.

The team was legally eliminated from the main competition for the fourth time in the club’s history following a 0-1 loss to Arminia Bielefeld.

Schalke, who played with 10 men 19 minutes after Malick Thiaw received a second yellow card, are bottom of the league with 13 points after 30 games, 13 points behind second -bottom Cologne.

Bielefeld captain Fabian Klos scored the winning goal early in the second half which led to the club’s relegation, after returning to the main stage in the 1991/1992 season.

“I don’t feel comfortable and can imagine how Schalke fans are crying in front of the television right now,” team manager Gerald Asamoah said in tears.

“We knew what was going to happen, but when the moment came, it was something difficult. We were all disappointed and each of us had to question ourselves,” the former Germany striker added.

It is now almost 10 years since Schalke reached the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time.

In the action, the Spanish legend, Raul also scored a goal when they beat Inter Milan 5-2 at the San Siro. Schalke then lost to Manchester United in the semi -finals.