Arsenal requested a pitch inspection before their Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid, citing concerns that the grass at the Metropolitano Stadium was too long. The club formally asked UEFA to measure the grass length.
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Arsenal staff were seen inspecting the pitch at the Metropolitano ahead of kick-off (PA)
Arsenal reportedly requested a pitch inspection ahead of kick-off in the their Champions League semi-final first leg tie against Atletico Madrid, with the Gunners’ grounds staff believing that the grass was too long at the Metropolitano Stadium.
Clips circulating on social media show Arsenal staff seemingly in conversation while inspecting the grass on the pitch, and Spanish journalist Guillem Balague later reported that the club had formally asked Uefa to measure the length of the grass.
“They’re checking the length of the grass. Arsenal think that it’s too high,” Balague had earlier said in his own clip posted on his X account.
“Arsenal, the ground staff, came in thinking the grass is too high, and asked Uefa to actually measure it. They weren’t happy, they thought it was Simeone creating some dark arts,” Balague later explained on CBS Sports Golazo.
“After a while, Uefa said: ‘No, it’s actually 26mm’. The limit is 30mm, it goes between 21 and 30, and it’s 26, which by the way was the same as when they played Barcelona here.” .
The pitch at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano has been the subject of controversy this season, notably after Atletico’s Champions League ties against Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona.
Spurs players repeatedly slipped during their 5-2 loss in Madrid in the first leg of their round of 16 tie, with slips from and directly leading to two goals for the hosts.
Arsenal requested a pitch inspection because their grounds staff believed the grass at the Metropolitano Stadium was too long.
Guillem Balague reported that Arsenal formally asked UEFA to measure the length of the grass, as they thought it was too high.
The pitch length can affect gameplay, and teams often prefer specific conditions to optimize their performance during crucial matches like the Champions League semi-finals.
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The pitch was a huge factor in Spurs’ 5-2 loss to Atletico earlier in the season (Getty)
And Barcelona manager Hansi Flick had previously raised similar concerns over the pitch and the length of the grass ahead of his side’s second leg in the quarter-finals, though once again Uefa confirmed it was within regulations.
The Gunners face Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie this evening, before the second leg takes place at the Emirates next week on Tuesday, 5 May. The winner of the tie will face either PSG or Bayern Munich in the final on 30 May.