The reason why the grass at Hang Day Stadium is abnormally shrinking

After a 3-week break, V.League 2023/24 returns with the 14th round of matches. At Hang Day Stadium tonight (March 30), The Cong Viettel faces Quang Nam Club on a field that is clearly different from normal.

Spectators watching the match could see an unusual change in the size of the pitch. The end lines at both ends of the pitch were moved several metres further from the edge of the grass than they had been in previous matches. The width of the pitch was also reduced.

The match between The Cong Viettel and Quang Nam took place on a smaller field than usual.

Explaining the change in the size of the playing field, Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company (VPF) said that the reduced size of the field still ensures competition standards according to football laws issued by the International Football Association Board - IFAB.

This change is made to maintain the grass in the area in front of the goal in stand D and part of the grass in the touchline area near the away team's technical cabin.

A representative of Hanoi FC - one of the three clubs using Hang Day Stadium as their home ground - said that the stadium management board is currently fixing the problem of damaged grass in the area of the two goal posts. In addition, many areas on the field have seriously sunk and need to be renovated, replanted with grass, and the ground level raised.

The grass surface of Hang Day Stadium has many damaged areas, forcing the stadium management board to temporarily reduce the size of the playing field.

Under favorable conditions, the size of the playing field at Hang Day Stadium will return to normal for the National Cup matches scheduled to take place at the end of April.

Currently, Hang Day Stadium is the home ground of 3 teams: Hanoi FC, Hanoi Police Club and Viettel The Cong. According to the regulations of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), one of the 3 teams must move to another stadium. However, the 3 clubs and VFF, VPF have not yet agreed on a solution.