One of the world’s most famous stadiums isn’t providing a very good playing surface. Players struggled to keep their footing during the FA Cup semifinals, and in Portsmouth’s 2-0 upset ofTottenham, Spurs captain Michael Dawson slipped as he was about to make a routine clearance and Frederic Piquionne took advantage to score.
TottenhamHotspur coach Harry Redknapp said of Wembley Stadium’s state, “I am not making any excuses because we missed our chances, but the pitch is an absolute disgrace. I’m not usingthe pitch as an excuse—it was the same for both teams but for any professional team to have to play football on that is farcical. How can you play on a pitch that you can’t stand up on?You have to spend the whole time trying to make sure you don’t fall over. It can’t be right can it ?”
For many years the field at the old Wembley Stadium was regarded as one ofthe finest playing surfaces in the world. But the field has been re-laid 10 times since the new Wembley opened in 2007.