Arsenal’s recent Champions League encounter with Real Madrid should’ve been a wake-up call on the importance of quality pitch environments. UEFA are now under immense pressure to crack down on pitch quality. Following her side’s 2-0 loss on Tuesday night, Arsenal manager Renee Slegers expressed her displeasure and frustration over player safety. She worries that playing on unsafe pitches might even result in more girls sustaining injuries.
The degradation of pitch conditions has been the hottest topic of conversation among women’s football circles. Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright labelled the surface a “disgrace,” calling attention to the critical lack of progress. Arsenal’s roughly analogous Women’s Super League (WSL) match against Liverpool next week will be played at the Emirates Stadium. This closer quality pitch ensures the best playing surface possible for the team.
Arsenal’s return leg with Real Madrid next Wednesday should produce a much better surface. The recent match at Derby's Pride Park drew criticism for its conditions, which contributed to a severe injury to Real Madrid's Melanie Leupolz. Leupolz suffered a nasty injury when she caught her studs in the mud while attempting a pass, forcing her to leave the field in tears.
Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor gave special focus to the importance of high-quality pitches. She was clear that player safety and the quality of the game itself are her overriding priorities.
"I think that's just not acceptable to be able to play on bad pitches, first of all because of the quality, but also, and maybe mainly, because of the safety of the players." – Sonia Bompastor
Ever the firebrand, Bompastor implored UEFA to act forcefully. He proposed that clubs be made to offer higher quality pitches, especially during international breaks when principal stadia are empty.
"UEFA should take some decisions and they should impose to the clubs to be able to have another pitch, especially when it's an international break for the men's side and the big stadium is available." – Sonia Bompastor
Making sure playing surfaces look better isn’t all about appearances. To them, it’s not that important for the safety and long-term well-being of the players. The issue with Leupolz further highlights the dangers that poorly maintained pitches can cause.
As women's football continues to grow in popularity and visibility, stakeholders are advocating for better infrastructure to support this growth. Arsenal's match against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium offers a glimpse into what improved conditions could look like for women's matches. Football fans across the country will be eager to watch this heavyweight match-up in person, exclusively live on Sky Sports.
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