Gotham Criticizes Field Conditions, Reign Respond

Gotham FC's 1-0 win over the Seattle Reign in the NWSL quarterfinal was followed by harsh reactions to the field conditions. Gotham head coach Juan Carlos Amoros criticized the pitch at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Amoros said a league at this level should have a better surface, and he stressed that the club did everything it could.

Before the match, the NWSL had fined Gotham $10,000 over the quality of the field. The stadium belongs to Hudson County in New Jersey and is mainly the home of Red Bull New York. Gotham is a secondary tenant at the venue. The MLS team played its season finale on Saturday evening, while the NWSL match kicked off at noon on Sunday. The previous week, rugby matches had been held at the stadium, and the marks were clearly visible on the surface.

Players also complained about the conditions. Gotham's Jaelin Howell said the surface was sandy and uneven, but noted that the opponent also had to play on the same field. Reign's Jess Fishlock was far more critical of the pitch. Reign head coach Laura Harvey said a playoff match should not be played on such a surface and that the state of the field was known in advance.

Amoros said the field made it harder for the ball to bounce and that they had to change their game plan. Gotham will face the Kansas City Current in the semifinal at 3:00 p.m. local time on Sunday at the same stadium. The Red Bulls, meanwhile, will play a friendly against Club America the day before, during an international break.