Saturday’s English Premier League match between Blackpool and Manchester United has been postponed due to a frozen pitch.
The surface at Blackpool’s Bloomfield Road home, which does not have undersoil heating, was declared unsafe to play on after a pitch inspection by referee Peter Walton on Friday.
Ground staff had worked through the night with large hot-air blowers and a heated cover in an attempt to enable the match to go ahead, but freezing conditions during the night led Walton to call the match off.
“Mr Walton expressed concern that the severely affected areas of the playing surface would not thaw sufficiently for the game to be completed,” Blackpool said in a statement.
The clash between promoted Blackpool and league leaders United is the most high-profile match to fall victim to the sub-zero temperatures affecting England.
In the Football League Championship, the match between leaders QPR and Hull City, as well as Bristol City’s trip to face Nottingham Forest and Portsmouth’s home game against Burnley, have all been called off.
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
SoccerNews
Soccernews.com is news blog for soccer with comprehensive coverage of all the major leagues in Europe, as well as MLS in the United States. In addition we offer breaking news for transfers and transfer rumors, ticket sales, betting tips and offers, match previews, and in-depth editorials.
You can follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/soccernews.com or Twitter: @soccernewsfeed.