UEFA will inspect Wembley's pitch on Monday, prioritizing playability over aesthetics.GETTY IMAGES
UEFA said that it is "keeping a close eye" on the playing conditions at Wembley Stadium for the Champions League match between Tottenham and PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday, according to Christian Radnedge of REUTERS. Repeated delays to Tottenham's new stadium meant the club has had to play additional matches at Wembley "amid other sporting events already booked" at England's major arena. Tottenham's 1-0 loss to Man City in the Premier League on Monday came a day after an NFL game on the same pitch between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Philadelphia Eagles. The playing service "retained significant and visible wear and tear" as well as gridiron line markings from the NFL event and UEFA said that it was "concerned with making sure the conditions were safe for the Champions League Group B match." Man City Manager Pep Guardiola was critical of the pitch on Monday, "blaming it for errors from both sides" (REUTERS, 10/31). In London, Tom Morgan reported UEFA will "check the pitch twice in 24 hours" to ensure it is "dramatically better" than it was for the EPL match. The Wembley groundskeepers "refused to wash away the markings" from the NFL game because they believed it could "cause damage to the grass." A source said that next Monday's UEFA inspection will prioritize "playability over aesthetics" (TELEGRAPH, 10/31).
