Laursen swipe for plastic pitch

Celtic defender Ulrik Laursen claims he feels nothing but pity for the Dunfermline players for having to play on their infamous East End Park plastic pitch.

Relations between the two clubs have broken down once again after Hoops boss Martin O’Neill refused to use new signing Craig Bellamy on the artificial surface during Sunday’s 3-0 win in the Tennent’s Scottish Cup.

Pars chairman John Yorkston hit back by claiming Celtic defender Bobo Balde caused more injuries than his pitch.

With O’Neill furious at those comments, the Scottish Football Association have written to Yorkston asking for an explanation for the comments.

Yet Yorkston claims that Celtic are still bitter about Dunfermline’s 6-1 loss at Ibrox in May 2003 which handed the title to Rangers.

Now Danish left-back Laursen has made it clear he regards the pitch as a liability.

He told www.celticfc.net: “I actually spoke to the Dunfermline lads to tell them how much I felt sorry for them, having to train and play on that pitch every week, and I know that they probably hate it more than anyone.

“As for whether it’s safe or not, I refuse to believe that it hasn’t been responsible for a lot of injuries and, in the longer term, I wouldn’t be surprised if you see it causing bigger problems.

“I certainly don’t see it benefiting Dunfermline over a lengthy period of time because it will make it more difficult for them to attract players, and the ones they do have will pick up more injuries than they would otherwise.

“Their chairman obviously says that it isn’t dangerous and although, having played on it, I’m sure that’s not the case, there’s so much more wrong with it than that.

“For me, football on a pitch like that just isn’t football, certainly not the kind that I’d pay to watch. You see yourself that the players are holding back from things that they would normally do, like slide tackles, which you would only go into on that surface if it was absolutely necessary.

“Stephane (Henchoz) slid in once, and I would have done it if I had to because, when it comes down to it, a bruise or a burn is better than losing a goal. But I’ll be delighted if I never have to play on it again.”

Celtic will be away in their quarter-final tie but do not yet know where after they were paired with either Ross County or Clyde, who played out a goalless draw in Dingwall on Saturday.

The two sides will battle it out in the replay on Tuesday February 15.