Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman stresses player safety concerns amid “dangerously” poor pitch conditions
Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman has raised concerns over player safety after a high-level women’s clash was overshadowed by poor playing conditions.
Arsenal succumbed to a 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid last week, but it wasn’t their performance that drew the ire of many - with the rain-sodden surface on which the game was played on instead stealing the headlines.
Held at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium, the 6,000-seater home of Real's reserves, questions were raised at why the contest wasn’t staged at the Bernabeu, which was available during the men's international break.
This comes after criticism was directed at the playing surface for the Women’s League Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester City, which took place at Derby County’s Pride Park.
"It's really disappointing,” Wiegmann said. “You would hope they would be playing (Champions League matches) in the Bernabeu.
"You want better pitches. It's a little bit dangerous, too. We have to keep working on these things, players deserve to show their performances at the highest level and take away the risks of injury."
Wiegman’s England side are staring down the barrel of a double-header against Belgium next month in the Women’s Nations League - travelling to Leuven just four days after they first take on the nation at Ashton Gate.
England are unbeaten in Group A3, starting their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Portugal before beating Spain 1-0 under the Wembley lights.
Wiegman believes avenging their 2023 final defeat to world champions Spain will do wonders for the Lionesses’s confidence against Belgium.
"I think a lot of confidence, we showed we are still a top team,” she added. “We had a bit of disappointment against Portugal but I think tactically they did a couple of things really well and we had to adapt to that.
"That was a different game. In between these games we had some team meetings and conversations and you could see and feel on the pitch we fought for this win [against Spain].
"We knew it was a very competitive game because Spain are the world champions so that brings confidence to the team.
"Belgium will give us different challenges and we have to adapt again. It's going to be two tough games but we're looking forward to meeting up with the team again."
Topics
-
Women’s footballers deserve better than ‘dangerous pitches’, says Sarina Wiegman
England manager Sarina Wiegman has raised concerns over some of the “dangerous” pitches in women’s football.Yahoo Sports - 23h -
Female players' 'safety at risk' due to poor pitches
The PFA says the safety of female footballers is being put "at risk" by substandard playing conditions in major matches.Yahoo Sports - 6d -
Poor pitches put female players' 'safety at risk'
The PFA says the safety of female footballers is being put "at risk" by substandard playing conditions in major matches.BBC News - 6d -
Women’s football’s ‘sub-standard’ pitches put ‘player safety at risk’, says PFA
Women’s football is putting player safety at risk with the standard of pitches, the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) has said. The playing surface for top-level matches has been the ...Yahoo Sports - Mar. 19 -
Conditions hit Arsenal hopes as Wright says pitch a 'disgrace'
Arsenal boss Renee Slegers says women's football needs better pitches after Ian Wright describes Real Madrid's playing surface as a "disgrace".BBC News - Mar. 19 -
🎧 Women's Football Weekly: Lionesses squad & WSL relegation battle
The latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Women's Football Weekly podcast is out now as Ellen White, Jen Beattie and Ben Haines react to England manager Sarina Wiegman's latest squad to face Belgium ...Yahoo Sports - 16h -
Texas A&M falls to Alabama in Game 3 2-0 behind another poor performance at the plate
Texas A&M continues to waste solid pitching due to poor hitting, as the Aggies dropped Game 3 vs. Alabama 2-0 to start SEC play 0-3.Yahoo Sports - Mar. 17 -
“Then push” – Enzo Maresca claims poor first half vs Copenhagen was all part of the plan
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has claimed that the poor first half in last night’s game was just all part of the plan, as it was in the 1st leg.Chelsea beat Copenhagen 1-0 on Thursday night to advance ...Yahoo Sports - Mar. 14 -
Pitch for Arsenal loss at Real a disgrace - Wright
Arsenal boss Renee Slegers says women's football needs better pitches after Ian Wright describes Real Madrid's playing surface as a "disgrace".Yahoo Sports - Mar. 19
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Fantasy Baseball: Priority waiver wire pickups to make ahead of Opening Day
If you're wrapped up with your fantasy baseball draft but still find your lineup lacking, Andy Behrens is here to help.Yahoo Sports - 41m -
Snead and Mcvay excited for the new look Adams brings to the Rams
Les Snead was showing high praise for new Ram Davante Adams recently on the Pat Mcafee showYahoo Sports - 43m -
2025 NBA Draft scouting report: Alex Karaban, F, Connecticut
Karaban projects as a deep-range sniper, though his shot fell off this past year with UConn.Yahoo Sports - 45m -
NFL draft: Browns schedule top 30 visit with Texas Football WR Isaiah Bond
The Browns are showing significant interest in Texas Football WR Isaiah Bond, scheduling their second NFL draft visit with the playmakerYahoo Sports - 45m -
Andy Farrell reveals ‘75-man’ longlist for Lions tour and Irish core in coaching team
Lions head coach Andy Farrell has turned to three of his assistants from the Irish set-up – Simon Easterby, Andrew Goodman and John Fogarty – to form the spine of his coaching team for the tour to ...Yahoo Sports - 45m
More in Sports
-
Sources: QB Wilson, Giants agree to 1-year deal
The Giants and free agent QB Russell Wilson reached agreement on a one-year deal worth up to $21 million, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The deal eliminates New York as a potential option this ...ESPN - 36m -
Sources: Diggs, Pats agree on 3-year, $69M deal
Stefon Diggs and the New England Patriots reached an agreement on a three-year, $69 million deal that includes $26 million guaranteed.ESPN - 36m -
Lillard out indefinitely due to blood clot in calf
Bucks guard Damian Lillard has been diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his right calf and is out indefinitely.ESPN - 36m -
Sources: Pitino set to leave Lobos for Xavier job
Xavier is expected to hire New Mexico's Richard Pitino as its next head coach, sources told ESPN on Tuesday night.ESPN - 36m -
Ovechkin scores No. 889, now 6 from NHL record
Alex Ovechkin scored the 889th goal of his career to move six goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's NHL record as he helped the Capitals to a point before the Jets rallied in overtime to secure ...ESPN - 36m