Empoli, a Serie A club, has offered a sincere apology for the appalling state of the pitch at their Stadio Carlo Castellani during their season-opening match against Monza on Saturday. While the match ended in a 0-0 draw, the poor condition of the pitch stole the spotlight, attracting more attention than the game itself.
The pitch was riddled with brown, uneven patches, and as the match progressed, large sections of the grass were torn up, exposing bare earth and leaving the field in a state of disrepair. The shocking condition of the pitch sparked widespread criticism, with many pointing fingers at the club for failing to maintain the playing surface.
Empoli, however, attributed the issue to the high activity at the stadium between seasons. They explained that the intense usage of the pitch left them with insufficient time to properly prepare the turf for the start of the season. The club, in their official statement, assured fans that they are taking steps to rectify the situation and that the pitch will be in perfect condition for their next home game against Juventus on September 15th.
Newspaper Tuttosport, in a scathing headline, labelled the pitch “scandalous,” emphasizing that images of the deplorable playing surface have been circulated globally, casting a negative light on Italian football. While Empoli’s apology is a step in the right direction, the damage to their reputation, and the embarrassment to Italian football as a whole, will take time to repair.
