reportedly requested a pitch inspection forward of kick-off within the their semi-final first leg tie in opposition to , with the Gunners’ grounds workers believing that the grass was too lengthy on the Metropolitano Stadium.
Clips circulating on social media present Arsenal workers seemingly in dialog whereas inspecting the grass on the pitch, and Spanish journalist Guillem Balague later reported that the membership had formally requested to measure the size of the grass.
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“They’re checking the size of the grass. Arsenal suppose that it’s too excessive,” Balague had earlier mentioned in his personal clip posted on his X account.
“Arsenal, the bottom workers, got here in pondering the grass is just too excessive, and requested Uefa to truly measure it. They weren’t glad, they thought it was Simeone creating some darkish arts,” Balague later defined on CBS Sports activities Golazo.
“After some time, Uefa mentioned: ‘No, it’s truly 26mm’. The restrict is 30mm, it goes between 21 and 30, and it’s 26, which by the way in which was the identical as after they performed right here.” .
The pitch on the Riyadh Air Metropolitano has been the topic of controversy this season, notably after Atletico’s Champions League ties in opposition to and Barcelona.
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Spurs gamers within the first leg of their spherical of 16 tie, with slips from and immediately main to 2 objectives for the hosts.
The pitch was an enormous consider Spurs’ 5-2 loss to Atletico earlier within the season (Getty)
And Barcelona supervisor Hansi Flick had beforehand raised comparable considerations over the pitch and the size of the grass forward of his aspect’s second leg within the quarter-finals, although as soon as once more Uefa confirmed it was inside rules.
The Gunners face Atletico Madrid within the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie this night, earlier than the second leg takes place on the Emirates subsequent week on Tuesday, 5 Might. The winner of the tie will face both or within the ultimate on 30 Might.