The UAE will undertake their pre-match training sessions ahead of their Asian Cup Group C match with Iran away from the Brisbane Stadium as organisers attempt to preserve the pitch.
The surface in Brisbane has come under criticism from players and managers, most recently from Australia coach Ange Postecoglou following his team’s defeat to South Korea.
Postecoglou said he was “not happy” with the condition of the pitch, while Australia’s loss to Korea means they will return to Brisbane to face China in the quarter-finals.
Tournament organisers said turf will be re-laid in both six-yard boxes, and they also took the unusual step of moving pre-match training sessions for the UAE and Iran, who play in Brisbane on Monday, away from the venue. The UAE need only a draw to progress to the knockout stages as group winners.
“The official training sessions for UAE and Iran scheduled for Brisbane Stadium later today have been moved to preserve the pitch for the remaining matches,” Australian organisers said in a statement.
“Stadium management have advised today that the turf will be re-laid in the six-yard boxes at the north and south of the pitch,” they added.
Following Australia’s loss to South Korea, Postecoglou said: “I’m not happy with the pitch. That is going to be a bit of a challenge for us (in the quarter-finals) on Thursday.”
Australia striker Robbie Kruse earlier labelled the surface as a “disgrace”, while China coach Alain Perrin has been complaining about it since the start of the tournament.
“It doesn’t deserve (to be in) the competition,” said the Frenchman, calling it “very, very, very, very bad”.
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