UEFA announced that a plan was in place to improve the quality of the pitch at the Frankfurt Arena after problems with the surface occurred during the season. England’s draw with Denmark.
During the Group C match of the 2024 European Championship at the home stadium of Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt, the players had to contend with the poor condition of the pitch.
Even at the start of the game, large pieces of grass were scattered across the pitch, and after the game, ground staff could be seen filling buckets with grass.
“There is a detailed maintenance plan in place to address specific issues and further improve quality ahead of upcoming matches at the venue,” UEFA said.
“UEFA and its independent pitch consultants worked closely with the pitch team in Frankfurt in the run-up to the tournament to ensure optimal playing conditions. Over the course of last season they saw the pitch’s overall rating continually improve.”
The organizers also decided to close the stadium roof for the Three Lions’ second appearance at the 2024 European Championship.
Professor Steve Haake of the Sports Engineering Research Group at Sheffield Hallam University believes the higher humidity in the arena also had an impact.
“When 58,000 fans exhale and are very excited, a thousand kilograms of moisture are created per hour,” said Prof. Haake.
“Part of the problem is they’re keeping the climate out, keeping the sun out, keeping the moisture out. The grass needs exactly those two things to grow well. I suspect they’ve got the timing wrong.”
The next match at this venue will take place on 23 June, when hosts Germany face Switzerland in Group A.
Slovakia and Romania will meet in Group E on 26 June and the final match will be a round of 16 match between the winner of Group F and one of the four best third-placed teams on 1 July.