Ulsan, Gwangju relocate ACLE matches due to poor pitch conditions

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Ulsan, Gwangju relocate ACLE matches due to poor pitch conditions

Published: 07 Oct. 2024, 15:13 Updated: 07 Oct. 2024, 17:06

PAIK JI-HWAN
paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr

Ulsan HD forward Joo Min-kyu, right, vies for the ball during the 2024-25 AFC Champions League Elite match against Kawasaki Frontale at Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan on Sept. 18. [NEWS1]

Ulsan HD and Gwangju FC have relocated venues for their upcoming AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE) matches scheduled later this month, moving away from their home stadiums after foreign coaches raised concerns about the poor pitch quality at the K League teams' grounds.

Ulsan will play their ACLE group stage match against Vissel Kobe on Oct. 23 at Ulsan Stadium, the home of K3 team Ulsan Citizen, while Gwangju will face Johor Darul Ta'zim on Oct. 22 at Yongin Mireu Stadium in Yongin, Gyeonggi, 268 kilometers (166 miles) from Gwangju.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) website lists the two stadiums as the official venues for the teams' upcoming fixtures.

An Ulsan official told the Korea JoongAng Daily on Monday that the AFC ordered Ulsan to relocate their upcoming ACLE match after inspecting the pitch at Munsu Football Stadium, Ulsan’s usual home ground, and finding it unsuitable. Ulsan selected Ulsan Stadium, as its pitch was deemed to be in acceptable condition.

The official added that whether Ulsan will play future ACLE home games at Munsu Football Stadium depends on how quickly the Ulsan Infrastructure Corporation can restore its pitch.

Kawasaki Frontale manager Toru Oniki had previously commented on the poor pitch quality after the ACLE match against Ulsan on Sept. 18, noting that players prefer to play on well-maintained fields. Potholes at Munsu Football Stadium were even visible on camera.

As for Gwangju, the club opted for Yongin Mireu Stadium despite its significant distance from Gwangju, as other stadiums in the city and nearby areas either failed to meet AFC standards or had poor pitch conditions, a Gwangju official said on Monday.

Gwangju was forced to use Gwangju World Cup Stadium instead of Gwangju Football Stadium, their usual venue for league games, for their ACLE match against Yokohama F. Marinos on Sept. 17, as the latter did not meet AFC standards.

However, the pitch at Gwangju World Cup Stadium was reportedly unsuitable due to lack of use over an extended period, prompting Marinos’ interim manager John Hutchinson to mention the poor quality after the game.

The Gwangju official added that the team may use Gwangju World Cup Stadium for the remaining ACLE home games if the pitch condition improves.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]