Manaus pitch 'not fit for a World Cup game'

Jun 13, 2014

The pitch in Manaus due to host its first World Cup finals match between England and Italy on Saturday is not up to the standards required for a match of that stature.

MANAUS - The pitch in Manaus due to host its first World Cup finals match between England and Italy on Saturday is not up to the standards required for a match of that stature, according to world players union body FIFPro.

FIFPro's remarks echo those of an AFP journalist who on Tuesday observed that the playing surface was noticeably dry and particularly bare around one of the goals, revealing large yellowing areas of turf.

FIFPro said in a statement that the pitch was not fit to host a high-profile match such as a World Cup finals game.

"The players deserve a quality playing surface," said FIFPro in a statement.

"This isn't the case in Manaus.

"Nobody wants to see the players and the spectacle in general suffer."

The Group D game which kicks off at 2200GMT is a rematch of the sides' Euro 2012 quarter-final which Italy won on penalties before going on to lose to Spain in the final.

AFP


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