UEFA join Wembley pitch battle
CONCERNS over the condition and safety of the Wembley pitch have prompted UEFA to step in ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash between Tottenham and PSV Eindhoven. European football’s governing body want to ensure the pitch is in good enough condition for the game. In a statement last night they said: ‘UEFA is closely monitoring the situation at Wembley and working with the club, the FA and management of the stadium, to guarantee safe playing conditions for the Champions League match.’ Following Manchester City’s 1-0 win against Spurs at Wembley on Monday, manager Pep Guardiola said the pitch did not represent ‘football conditions’ with NFL markings clearly visible following Sunday’s match between the Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars. The Wembley groundsmen, however, are not prepared to wash over the surface as they believe it could cause damage to the grass. Instead, they are prioritising the ‘playability’ of the pitch ahead of the aesthetic look. They made it clear to Tottenham that the pitch risked being damaged for the match against City when the club asked for the fixture to be played at the national stadium. Groundstaff had an initial plan in place for the latter part of the calendar year but the insertion of extra Tottenham fixtures — in addition to one more NFL game that was intended to be played at Tottenham’s delayed new stadium — has placed extra strain on a pitch that also hosted Anthony Joshua’s world-title fight last month. MANCHESTER CITY defender Benjamin Mendy will not face any retrospective punishment from the FA after appearing to throw a punch at Tottenham’s Erik Lamela.