13 Apr 2010

Hallowed Wembley turf dubbed a national disgrace

6:31 am on 13 April 2010

The once-hallowed turf of Wembley Stadium, scene of England's fotball's greatest success and centrepiece of the country's 2018 World Cup bid, looks more like a national embarrassment now.

The woeful state of the current pitch was under scrutiny yesterday the 86th anniversary of England's first match at the old national stadium, after FA Cup semi-final controversy at the weekend.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp dubbed it "an absolute disgrace" after the slippery surface played a big part in Spurs' shock loss to newly relegated Portsmouth.

England's manager Fabio Capello, Manchester United's Alex Ferguson and Aston Villa's manager Martin O'Neill have also been highly critical of a pitch that has been relaid 10 times since the new opened in 2007.