Stadium body apologises for unfit pitch, blames Coldplay concert

 

The pitch at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium after the Coldplay concert attended by 75,000 fans on Nov 22.

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysia Stadium Corporation (PSM) has apologised for the “unsatisfactory” condition of the Bukit Jalil National Stadium’s pitch ahead of tomorrow night’s Malaysia Cup final.

“PSM did not have sufficient time to repair and restore the pitch to its optimum condition after the Coldplay concert held on Nov 22,” it said in a statement today.

It said it is committed to improving its SOPs for managing events at the stadium in the future.

Apart from apologising to the Malaysian Football League (MFL), which organises the Malaysia Cup, PSM also apologised to tomorrow’s finalists – Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) and Terengganu FC – as well as their fans and Malaysian football enthusiasts in general.

Their statement comes on the back of criticism by the Tunku Mahkota of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, about the pitch’s condition after last month’s Coldplay concert attended by a record-breaking 75,000 fans.

Previously, PSM had given its assurance that the pitch’s condition would not be affected if it was used for purposes other than football.

In October, the newly upgraded pitch at the stadium had chunks of torn grass just 45 minutes into play between Malaysia and India at the Merdeka Tournament.

Tunku Ismail, who sponsored the Zeon Zoysia grass on the pitch, said it should have been given two to three months for the roots to strengthen before the pitch could be used.

“But the national team wanted to use it as soon as possible. That is the decision by FAM (Football Association of Malaysia) and the stadium (management),” he said.

“If it was up to me, I would have given it more time,” he said when replying to a post from an X user who had questioned the condition of the pitch. - FMT