Astroturf anyone?

San Siro to go synthetic?

Source: Football Italia

In a weekend where heavy rainfall and snow has affected Serie A’s games, it’s been revealed a synthetic pitch for the San Siro is ready to go.

UEFA have lifted their ban on artificial playing surfaces for the Champions’ League, UEFA Cup and other competitions from next season and some Italian clubs are raring to make the most of this change.

Milan and Inter have often complained at the uneven nature of the pitch in the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, especially since a third tier was added for the 1990 World Cup.

“If the Italian Federation gives us the go-ahead,” revealed Milan representative Alfonso Cefaliello, “then we would be ready to go. It would solve a lot of problems and halve the costs of maintenance.”

Artificial pitches had been outlawed after injuries and uneven bounces were reported in the early days of this experiment, but advances in technology mean the surfaces are reliable and above all not prone to flooding or ice.

The Milanese clubs are particularly prepared for this eventuality, as both the Milanello and Appiano Gentile training grounds already use synthetic surfaces.

“We were very sceptical,” noted Inter representative Luciano Cucchia, “but at the moment an artificial San Siro pitch is something we can’t help but consider. As the field is criticised by our own players and Coaching staff, it’s clear we have to do something.”

Both Roberto Mancini and Carlo Ancelotti have commented this season that they play better football on their travels, as they don’t have to deal with the San Siro field. The situation is so dire that the clubs have sections of grass flown in from around Europe to patch up the surface.

The pitch has already undergone this treatment twice since September and last year there were five at a cost of £100,000 each. It’s reported that making the entire field at the San Siro synthetic would be a one-off payment of £560,000.

“In Northern Europe we are already more accepting of this kind of surface,” explained Milan’s Danish international Jon Dahl Tomasson. “Of course a grass pitch in good condition is the best, but there are situations where that just isn’t possible. I’m convinced the future for both Scandinavia and Italy is synthetic.”

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Could be a good deal in the long run. The dire state of San Siro pitch well explains why both Milan & Inter play better in away games. You can't even put a pass straight on that kind of surface.

sounds like a good plan to me....it's tough when u can't even play a good game on your own pitch

Artifial surfaces results in knee injuries, thats all we need.

The artificial surfaces that are available nowadays are far superior to the good 'ol knee breaking turfs that UEFA banned. Given how poor the San Siro turf is, I vote in favour.

PS. Maybe this could be something we poll...

i play on the new artificial grass surfaces every week. Its called PitchTurf in UK and the Americans have another company that do the same surface. It is excellent - its not like the old artificial pitches that Luton and QPR used in 80's - they were basically hockey pitch style surfaces. This new surface is like grass and when you fall over on it the discomfort is minimal - same as playing on a summer grass pitch.

When it is wet is is incredibly fast and allows for excellent play as you can trust the bounce and pitch of the ball.

The only hangup is when dry the bounce is not as "good" as grass and extra effort is sometimes required to get the ball going.
but as AC Milan will have the best available i am sure that this will be the best option for everyone -

I remember the original "plastic pitch" used by Luton in the 1980's. It was hilarious at times, goal kicks used to bounce straight out over the other goal line due to the ridiculous bounce. Was a somewhat bizarre experiment, despised by professionals throughout Britain.

A few years ago Nicola Amoruso broke his leg playing for Juve against Milan at the San Siro. At the time I remember people threatening to sue the ground authorities over the poor state of the pitch which was blamed for causing his injury. Not sure what eventually happened to the case. The San Siro is municipally owned so I wouldn't think the case, if it ever came to court, would hit Milan too hard.

The basic problem with the San Siro pitch lies with the extra tier built for the 1990 world cup. It prevented enough oxygen getting to the pitch, so the grass struggled to grow, resulting in a mud heap of a pitch. It's the same at Old Trafford in recent years, the pitch there is relaid several times a season. I learned all this during a Gazzetta Football Italia feature a few seasons ago, back when Channel 4 showed it every Saturday morning. The groundsman at the time (I don't know if he's still there or not) was an Englishman from Burnley who drove a lawnmower while wearing his Burnley FC scarf.

i am in favour, with the best quality available it would be very effective

I guess it would solve a LOT of problems, so I think it may well be a good idea

Saw the Juventus-Lecce game, it was appalling! I was quite puzzled by how the referee allowed the game to go on. I thought football pitches like that only exist in my village but in a top level professional scene?

Anything but a soggy pitch.

i've played on the new astro-turfs myself...they have about 2 in NYC......they are good and when u fall u get no serious injury like playing ...the bounce is true and better yet it's even..like rooling a ball along a carpet.....it's a good idea

In Ireland where I live we had the first pitch of its kind in Europe, it was used as a test bed for various different companies and Uefa to provide research and improve atrificial playing surfaces. After 5 years of numerous tweaks and changes I can tell you the pitch that is there now is the same one that Uefa have ok'd for use. Its amazingly like grass even looks like it. Only thing I found it seems a tad bit slower to me, but maybe thats just me.

But lets think about it. I used to play league of ireland football and am quite an injury prone player, ankles being the main problem. I cannot play on ordinary astro anymore as i always end up doing my ankle. On this pitch however I have never had one single injury. Your wearing boots instead of the runners and it feels like a nicely moist grass pitch. Would you rather that than the bumpy crater ridden surface that is the San Siro?

We have one in the Scottish Premier League at Dunfermline.It has been there less than one year as part of a UEFA experiment.No one seems to like it and visiting teams report unusual injuries and muscle pain after only one match.I am not aware of any serious injuries on the pitch yet.I will see it this weekend when my team Kilmarnock visit.Having been to San Siro for the recent Milan v Roma match the pitch did not look great but I have seen worse.It somehow doesnt seem right to play on artificial turf?
YNTTK
FORZA MILAN

Originally Posted by killiegradge

It somehow doesnt seem right to play on artificial turf?
YNTTK
FORZA MILAN

Granted it doesn't seem right, the sport is a grass sport and should remain. Brings a whole new meaning to the term grass roots football!!! But aside from that unless they re structure the roof that that its somehow sliding or retractable and force air onto the pitch through fans or what not when its not in use what else can they do.

It seems that at the present time we havent quite got the answer with the artificial pitches.Of course there will be continued improvements and when we get it right things will be OK.I noticed at San Siro the day before the Roma match that they had UV lamps over the pitch in certain areas and in particular with a pitch used at least every week that doesnt give it any time to recover.

YNTTK
FORZA MILAN

Originally Posted by killiegradge

We have one in the Scottish Premier League at Dunfermline.It has been there less than one year as part of a UEFA experiment.No one seems to like it and visiting teams report unusual injuries and muscle pain after only one match.I am not aware of any serious injuries on the pitch yet.I will see it this weekend when my team Kilmarnock visit.Having been to San Siro for the recent Milan v Roma match the pitch did not look great but I have seen worse.It somehow doesnt seem right to play on artificial turf?
YNTTK
FORZA MILAN

I can't say too much about artificial pitches as I don't know too much about them, but about the injury problems you mention, don't forget the Milan players already train on an artificial pitch, so they'll already be used to it