Arsenal reportedly made a bizarre request to Uefa ahead of their Champions League semi-final first leg against Atletico Madrid, asking for a pitch inspection over concerns that the grass at the Estadio Metropolitano was too long. The Gunners' grounds staff were seen inspecting the pitch before kick-off, with clips circulating on social media showing them in conversation while examining the turf.
Grass Length Controversy
Spanish journalist Guillem Balague reported that Arsenal formally asked Uefa to measure the grass length. "They're checking the length of the grass. Arsenal think that it's too high," Balague said in a clip posted on his X account. He later explained on CBS Sports Golazo: "Arsenal, the ground staff, came in thinking the grass is too high, and asked Uefa to actually measure it. They weren't happy, they thought it was Simeone creating some dark arts. After a while, Uefa said: 'No, it's actually 26mm'. The limit is 30mm, it goes between 21 and 30, and it's 26, which by the way was the same as when they played Barcelona here."
Previous Pitch Issues
The pitch at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano has been a subject of controversy this season, particularly during Atletico's Champions League ties against Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona. Spurs players slipped repeatedly during their 5-2 loss in the first leg of their round of 16 tie, with slips from Antonin Kinsky and Micky van de Ven directly leading to two goals. Barcelona manager Hansi Flick also raised concerns about the pitch and grass length ahead of his side's quarter-final second leg, but Uefa confirmed it was within regulations.
Match Context
Arsenal faced Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday evening. The second leg will take place at the Emirates on Tuesday, 5 May. The winner will face either PSG or Bayern Munich in the final on 30 May.
