HAMBURG FORCED TO REPLACE ITS PITCH

The Bundesliga club had to re-lay the pitch of its World Cup stadium after it was ruined by an American football game, Reuters reported. The pitch was damaged during a game between the Hamburg Sea Devils and the Cologne Centurions. New grass was brought in from the Netherlands and put in place prior Hamburg’s game against Borussia Dortmund.

Hamburg is the second World Cup Stadium to experience problems. Bayern Munich’s stadium, which will play host to the German national team’s opening game, had to re-lay its pitch after it was damaged after bad weather.

80. IRISH SHAMROCK ROVERS BRACING FOR LEGAL ACTION OVER STADIUM CONSTRUCTION

The eircom League First Division club is growing concerned over proposed legal challenges by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) over the renovation of a football-only stadium in Tallaght, already approved by the South Dublin County Council (SDCC). The club had planned on moving into the next stadium in time for next season.

The SDCC had originally approved the stadium to be used for football and the GAA, but reversed its decision after Irish Minister for Sport John O’Donoghue said the government would not fund a multi-use stadium. The GAA argues that as a municipal project, it must be open to other organizations.

Any delay could jeopardise the club’s proposed move in time for the start of next season, a concern expressed by Noel Byrne, a director of Shamrock Rovers: “We have already used up eight lives and don’t have too many more left.”

Club officials met privately with O’Donoghue and officials from the SDCC and were reassured that they were firmly behind the project.

The complications come at a sensitive time for the club and the league, with the eircom negotiating to merge with the Football Association of Ireland (FAI).