FA consider relaying pitch for Cup final

The Football Association are weighing up with Millennium Stadium chiefs whether or not to relay the pitch for next month’s FA Cup final between Arsenal and Southampton.

If a new playing surface is required, then it is believed to be the 12th time that such an exercise has been carried out since the stadium opened almost four years ago.

Paul Barber, the FA’s director of marketing and communications, today described existing pitch conditions as “fair”.

And there are two major rugby cup finals scheduled at the ground before Arsenal and Southampton face each other on May 17.

“The pitch is in a fair condition at the moment,” said Barber, following today’s Cardiff briefing etween the FA, both clubs, stadium officials and police.

“We will look at it over the next week, and take a decision at that time as to whether it needs to be relaid or whether we will go with what we’ve got there.”

The Millennium Stadium playing surface has been a source of repeated problems since Wales hosted South Africa in the first major event held there during June, 1999.

And earlier this season, it resembled a beach when Wales tackled New Zealand in the final game of their autumn Test series.

Stadium manager Bob Evans has no doubt that the pitch will be in pristine condition for the Welsh capital’s third FA Cup final.

“We have delivered in the past, and we will deliver again,” he said.

“There will be no fall-out, and everything will be done amicably. We are all singing from the same hymn sheet.

“The reality is that it is a fantastic stadium, but in terms of the pitch, it’s not a stadium that encourages the growth of grass,” he added.

“Especially during the autumn period, there is a marked and rapid deterioration of the surface, with a lack of light and wind, which makes it a very difficult task.”

The FA anticipate another carnival footballing occasion to savour when Arsenal and Southampton fans descend on Cardiff.

Each club’s ticket allocation will be 25,000 – slightly higher than last year - while travel to and from the stadium looks set for minimum disruption.