Field dispute moves Gotham FC's playoff match to Icahn

Gotham FC beat Seattle Reign 1-0 in the NWSL quarterfinal. After the match, the talking point was less the score and more the grass pitch at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Head coach Juan Carlos Amoros said he felt he owed an apology over the condition of the field.

Sunday's semifinal will be against Kansas City Current. Instead of the 25,000-capacity Sports Illustrated Stadium, where Gotham has been the home team since 2021, the club decided to play the match at the 5,000-seat Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island in Manhattan. In a statement on Monday, the club cited concern for the safety of its players.

The field problems go back to the process by which MLS club Red Bull New York took over the stadium. The new grass was completed in July. In October, rugby matches were played at the stadium, and sand and lines on the field were still visible. Gotham spoke with the host organization about the field conditions but did not get a result. The NWSL fined the club $10,000. The fine became public when Reign head coach Laura Harvey mentioned it at her post-quarterfinal press conference.

A field consultant working for the NWSL inspected the pitch on Friday and said it met FIFA standards. On match day, representatives of the NWSL, PRO and NWSLPA said the field was playable. Even so, players were heavily critical. Harvey described the state of the field using profanity, and Reign captain Jess Fishlock called it "terrible." Gotham midfielder Jaelin Howell described the pitch as sandy and uneven. Jaedyn Shaw said she was worried her foot could slip on corner kicks.