Allianz Stadium pitch condition under-fire from Sydney FC
Sydney FC players have denounced the standard of Allianz Stadium's pitch and expressed relief it will be re-turfed in time for their A-League semifinal.Commensurate with heavy cross-code traffic this time of year, the Sky Blues played their final AFC Champions League group game -- a goalless draw with Shanghai Shenhua -- on a bumpy surface.Polish star Adrian Mierzejewski led the criticism, bemoaning the way it broke up his side's attacking style.
Before Tuesday night's match coach Graham Arnold claimed the pitch played to Sydney's advantage because his players knew its quirks, but he later conceded it had done his side no favours."It's hard to play the combination play we like to play," Arnold said."I look forward to the SCG trust re-turfing the whole pitch this weekend."The re-surfacing will provide a smoother ride for Sydney when they host the lower-ranked winner of this weekend's elimination finals on Saturday week.However, the NRL will get to it first for next Wednesday's traditional Anzac Day clash between Sydney Roosters and St George Illawarra.It will give ground staff three days to patch it up, significantly longer than the sub-24 hours they had to get it ready for last season's A-League Grand Final, which was held the day after a Super Rugby match.
How Real Madrid have been hurt by robbery accusations
There is anger within the club at claims that they benefit from refereeing decisions following last week's controversy in the Champions League Real Madrid are not happy. Accusations of "robbery" against Juventus last week have left the Spanish side angry and concerned about possible repercussions in their European Cup semi-final tie versus Bayern Munich later this month.
The 12-time winners made it through to the last four of the Champions League thanks to a controversial penalty in stoppage time last Wednesday after they had thrown away their three-goal lead from the first leg in Turin.Furious protests from Juventus players followed, with goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon sent off for insulting referee Michael Oliver, his ire in full evidence after the game when he said: "A human being cannot destroy dreams like that at the end of an extraordinary comeback. Clearly you cannot have a heart in your chest, but a bin."