So now: After the Graz lawn disaster reached a new high during Sturm’s European Cup appearance against Sporting Lisbon, the bumpy surface will now be “replaced as quickly as possible,” the city of Graz announced on Saturday.
The constant rain on Saturday bodes ill for the GAK home game against Liefering in the afternoon (2.30 p.m.). After (and also during) Sturm’s European Cup match against Sporting Lisbon, the terrain in Liebenau looked more like a field or a lunar landscape than a lawn. It will be interesting to see how the pitch presents itself in the duel between the athletes and the second representative of the Bulls. In the end, no one really wanted to take responsibility for the desolate condition. Weather god Peter was blamed – first too wet, then too hot, so the green in Liebenau supposedly had no chance. Sturm recently pushed vehemently for a lawn replacement. Now his wish has been granted: “Of course the lawn in Liebenau will be replaced as quickly as possible,” clarified the responsible city councilor for finance, Manfred Eber (KPÖ). “Unfortunately, despite intensive efforts such as renovation and maintenance measures and the international break, the stadium management was unable to save the pitch. In the next few days we will analyze in detail why the grass did not last until summer as planned.” The green is now scheduled to be replaced at the beginning of October – everything will be done to ensure that it is fit for play for the games that will take place until then. As was heard, the Bundesliga had recently (once again) threatened to block the pitch because of the dismal condition.
source site-12