“If it’s been a problem for a few games, there should be a solution….”
Pohang Steelers head coach Kim Ki-dong sighed deeply. He met with reporters after checking the turf of the main stadium at Songam Sports Town in Chuncheon on Nov. 21 before the match against Gangwon FC. He said, “I’m worried about the players’ injuries. We can’t even play a good quality game due to the condition of the turf. The fans will also be disappointed.” As an away team, you have to be cautious about commenting on your opponent’s home field, but it’s clear that the grass was in bad shape.
Up close and personal, the stadium turf was still in bad shape. There was even a staircase-like layer between the healthy grass and the damaged areas. In some areas, it was almost impossible to see the grass. The field had been repaired a week earlier after the Suwon Samsung Electronics controversy, but it was not in playable condition.
The fears were realized. Go Young-jun (Pohang) was seen looking at the grass after missing a one-on-one opportunity with the goalkeeper. Every time a ball was contested on the damaged turf, sand flew everywhere. Even a simple sideways pass turned into a mistake on the grass. There were also many scenes of players struggling with irregular bounds.
It was disappointing that the grass was not easy for the players to play on in the top league of professional soccer. After the game, coach Kim Ki-dong said, “There were irregular bounds due to the grass, and the ball bounced and lost a lot of speed. I wonder if the players felt uncomfortable.” Gangwon-do Governor Kim Jin-tae and the club’s president also visited the stadium that day.
For now, there is no clear solution to the turf controversy. The Chuncheon Urban Corporation, which manages the stadium’s turf, has asked experts to look into it, but they have yet to find the exact cause. Fertilization is virtually the only option, but the field had been fertilized since the last game against Suwon. 먹튀검증