New turf at Wembley?

“There is a unique challenge with the surface at Wembley and we are working with expert pitch consultants to get it right. Wembley Stadium is a multipurpose venue and we have to hold other events as part of the business plan,which means regular pitch replacements each year,” it said.

Wembley will be the venue for a rugby union game between Saracens and Harlequins on Saturday,and the FA said it will decide after that whether to replace the pitch again. There are fears the players of England and Mexico could be injured at the ground in the May 30 friendly.

“It was ridiculous. Everyone was slipping all over the place and it proved more costly for us because it caused Michael Dawson to slip for their goal,” Tottenham striker Peter Crouch said after his side lost 2-0 to Portsmouth in Sunday’s game. “No one could stand up,there is no getting away from it.”

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp said the pitch was dangerous and called for it to be re-laid. “Dig it up and put another one down,” he said. “It’s rock hard and wet on the top. They don’t run race horses when it’s like that because it’s dangerous.”

Players’ union head Gordon Taylor said the problem had been around since Wembley was reopened in March 2007. Because of the enormous cost,the owners are trying to use it often to recoup some of the cost,and the pitch has little time to recover. “The pitch is a big concern,” said Taylor,chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association. “It is becoming an embarrassment and it needs to be addressed. There is no point worrying about the finances of Wembley if people are going to be wary of playing there because the pitch is not up to it.”