Wembley call in experts to solve pitch problem

Wembley chiefs have called a meeting with pitch experts on Monday in a bid to solve the problems with the English national stadium’s playing surface.

The pitch at the ground came in for fresh criticism after cutting up during last weekend’s FA Cup semi-finals.

Now officials are to meet with the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) in a bid to find a long-term solution to a pitch that is in line to be relaid, for the 11th time since the redeveloped Wembley opened in 2007, ahead of next month’s FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Portsmouth.

An IOG statement said on Wednesday: “The IOG is pleased to have been invited to a meeting with Wembley Stadium on Monday and hope it might be the start of finding a long-term solution to the problems of the playing surface at our national stadium.”

Last weekend, players from Chelsea, Aston Villa, Tottenham and Portsmouth struggled to keep their feet on the Wembley pitch due to the wet grass and hard soil beneath it.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp labelled the pitch a “disgrace” after defender Michael Dawson slipped in extra-time against Portsmouth, allowing Frederic Piquionne to score the goal that sent Pompey on their way to a shock 2-0 win on Sunday.

Many within English football are bewildered at how 757 million pounds (1.16 billion dollars) could be spent revamping a stadium which FA chiefs hope will host the 2018 World Cup Final, while seemingly neglecting the playing surface.

But in order to help finance the ground’s redevelopment, Wembley authorities committed themselves to holding a number of events, aside from football and the Rugby League Challenge Cup final which had traditionally been staged there.

This weekend, Premiership rugby union sides Saracens and Harlequins will be in action at Wembley, which has also hosted NFL games and even speedway as well as staging rock concerts.

Previous attempts at relaying the turf do not appear to have solved the fundamental problem of how to provide a stable surface for players and, with England playing their penultimate World Cup warm-up match against Mexico at Wembley on May 24, there are fears a member of Fabio Capello’s squad might be injured.

A decision on whether to relay the turf again will be taken after Monday’s meeting.