23 replies to this topic

[Karliiiitos]

Barcelona have complained to UEFA about the playing surface at the San Siro after players struggled with the pitch in the Champions League draw with AC Milan.

Lionel Messi slipped as he took a free-kick and other Barca players were unhappy with the pitch during the 0-0 draw in the quarter-final first leg.

The club passed the matter on to UEFA delegate Mikalai Varabyov in the post-match meeting and the Bulgarian has taken it up with the Italian side, Barcelona confirmed on their website.

In his post-match press conference Barca coach Pep Guardiola said: "In the end we adapt to everything, we come and we play, but it's clear that this was a problem for the spectacle."

Messi added: "We played our game but it was difficult because of the pitch and because they are very strong."

Team-mate Javier Mascherano also found it difficult to play on the San Siro surface.

He said: "The pitch was a problem in the stadium and it affects other teams."

Milan responded to the complaints by issuing a statement insisting the pitch was of an acceptable standard.

The statement on the club's website read: "With reference to the protest lodged by FC Barcelona regarding the condition of the pitch at the San Siro, AC Milan wishes to communicate that:

"1) The watering of the pitch within an hour before kick-off, as agreed in the organizational meeting on Wednesday morning, was not done due to the already high levels of humidity of the pitch.

"2) The general state of the pitch, which the Barcelona team trained on the previous evening without any problems, was declared to be acceptable by the referees and the UEFA delegates."

http://msn.foxsports...ac-milan-033012

[LFC4EVA]

Both teams had to play on it.

[Karliiiitos]

How dare you question the untouchables.

[Gazza]

Both teams had to play on it.

[E4C]

Reminded me of the pitches on Thomas Lane.

[KajoCFC]

What a wankers they're if they would score they would probably keep their mouth shut but they didn't so they start crying out. Pussy Team!

[UnitedRoadRed]

You'd think they'd be grateful that the team got to fall over without faking it for a change. Diving bunch of soft arses.

[Nugget]

I like a good Barca bashing as much as the next man but if the pitch was in bad condition (I didn't watch the match so I can't really comment on that) then Barca are right to complain. Surely a club like Milan should be able to keep their pitch in good nick

[The Opinion]

TBH the pitch did look shit. I mean I wont moan at anyone bitching about Barca, the fiulthy bastards, but they sorta have a point here. Milan did it on purpose, they did the same with us.

[UnitedRoadRed]

So preparing the pitch to suit your team became illegal when? If it's passed fit by the officials, that's sufficient.

Compared to the shite teams played on twenty years ago, they're a bunch of fairies moaning today.

[The Opinion]

Well I guess so, I mean I dont think Barca have much of a case but maybe there is a rule about preparing the pitch to best of your ability or somethng and lets be fair, it clearly wasnt the best it could be. Like I say it would bother me more but its Barca so fuck them.

[UnitedRoadRed]

Well I guess so, I mean I dont think Barca have much of a case but maybe there is a rule about preparing the pitch to best of your ability or somethng and lets be fair, it clearly wasnt the best it could be. Like I say it would bother me more but its Barca so fuck them.

I went to Upton Park earlier this year and Allardyce has drastically reduced the width of the pitch to suit his tactics.
Souness admitted that when he managed Rangers in Europe they used to let the visiting team train on the pitch the day before the game then remark it a good bit narrower.

It's a fine art in cricket, as well as with other lawn sports with home and away teams like bowls.

[Deano]

Would only be a problem for me personally if it was in such a bad state that it was likely to facilitate injury, like say playing a pitch that is essentially a beach as an example. I've not seen a pitch though at top level that fits this requirement. Barca just need to harden up.

[SouLDeFeNdEr]

You'd think they'd be grateful that the team got to fall over without faking it for a change. Diving bunch of soft arses.

They are still better than any Utd player. #End

[KajoCFC]

Stop spending so much time in Narnia!

[SamCFC]

That pitch was a dream compared to this pitch we used vs Charlton once http://news.bbc.co.u...tic/2746477.stm

[UnitedRoadRed]

They are still better than any Utd player at diving. #End

Fixed.

[DH!]

It's nothing new and their complaints will get no where. Clever by AC and it seemed to of worked, along with their impressive defensive unit.

Barca have another leg though at the Nou Camp which the can prepare to their liking.

[KajoCFC]

Puyol:
"The bad pitch at SanSiro isn't Milan's fault. I talked with Van Bommel and he said they change it 6-7 times a year."

If they know it wasn't Milan's fault why they start to complain in the first place?

Edited by KajoCFC, 02 April 2012 - 09:14 PM.

[UnitedRoadRed]

If they know it wasn't Milan's fault why they start to complain in the first place?

Because they didn't win.