New Glasgow sports team will 'do better' after safety concerns

The Glasgow Tartans played their first game on Sunday [BBC]

A new American Football team in Glasgow has said it will do better in the future after their first ever game was marred by criticism over player safety.

The Glasgow Tartans are part of the new International Arena League - an indoor eight on eight version of the sport.

They began with victory over England Eruptors on Sunday, but artificial turf was seen to frequently rise up as the game went on, while what appeared to be gym mats were taped to barriers around the pitch.

In a statement the club said "unique circumstances" had affected the fixture and player safety remained its priority.

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It is understood turf the club intended to use for the game - held at the Braehead Arena venue that hosts the Glasgow Clan ice hockey team - had not arrived, meaning a replacement was brought in at short notice which did not have the usual markings on it.

Footage and images posted online show turf rising up after players ran across it, and staff members going on after plays to stamp it back down again.

Critics on the club's social media, including coaches with existing American Football teams in Scotland, said it posed a safety risk for players, who are on per game contracts.

Pete Laird, the head coach with the Edinburgh Napier Knights university team, wrote: "I love so many of the guys on this team, but they are risking their lives playing on an unsafe surface.

"Players deserve to be paid, but players also deserve to be safe."