Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final clash against Atletico Madrid has seen some drama before a ball has even been kicked.
Mikel Arteta’s side travelled to the Metropolitano for the first leg knowing they are just two games away from the final.
With the stakes so high, every small detail matters – including the condition of the pitch. That is exactly where an unusual situation unfolded before kick-off.
Arsenal were not entirely happy with the length of the grass on the pitch and wanted UEFA to intervene. The governing body conducted the required checks immediately.
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UEFA respond after Arsenal complain about Atletico Madrid’s pitch
Shortly after arriving at the stadium, Arsenal’s ground staff noticed something they were not comfortable with – they felt the grass on the pitch was too long.
That immediately raised suspicions, especially as Barcelona had raised a similar concern before their Champions League quarter-final clash at Atleti.
Given the seriousness of the situation, UEFA officials were asked to step in and assess the pitch. They measured the grass length to determine whether it met the required standards.
According to Guillem Balague, who was present when these checks took place, the measurement came in at 26mm, which falls comfortably within UEFA’s regulations.
Balague said on CBS Sports: “I need to tell you about the grass war that took place just about an hour ago. Arsenal’s ground staff came in thinking the grass is too high: “We’re not happy with it!”
“They asked UEFA to actually measure it. They thought it was Simeone creating some dark arts.
“After a while, UEFA said, it was 26mm. The limit is 30mm. It’s 21-30mm.”
That means Atletico Madrid have done nothing wrong, and Arsenal will simply have to adapt and get on with the game.
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