Uefa will carry out extra pitch inspections at Wembley on Monday as officials pile pressure on Tottenham and the Football Association to ensure the playing surface is improved before their Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven.
European football’s governing body will check the pitch twice in 24 hours to ensure the pitch is dramatically better than it was for Spurs’ 1-0 defeat against Manchester City, when NFL markings and damaged turf were clearly visible.
The Wembley groundsmen had refused to wash away the markings following Sunday’s match between the Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars. because they believed it could cause damage to the grass.
Monday’s Uefa inspection will prioritise playability over aesthetics, a source said. Meanwhile, a spokesman for the governing body said: “Uefa is closely monitoring the situation at the Wembley Stadium and working together with the club, The Football Association and the management of the stadium, to guarantee safe playing conditions for the upcoming Uefa Champions League match.”
City manager Pep Guardiola said the pitch did not represent “football conditions” after Monday’s match. The insertion of extra Tottenham fixtures placed extra strain on a pitch that also hosted Anthony Joshua’s world-title fight last month.
Having failed to finish their new stadium in time for the initial opening date of Sept 15, Tottenham had been tentatively working towards completing it in time for the Burnley game on Dec 15.
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