Galatasaray release statement on pitch concerns ahead of Liverpool meeting

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There are growing safety concerns over the state of the playing surface at Galatasaray’s Rams Park ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League visit later this month.

Turkish media report that seawater has been mixed into the stadium’s grass irrigation system, leaving the turf looking “a mess” and raising fears over players’ footing

A purported inspection note suggests that UEFA representatives will conduct a surprise pitch assessment before Liverpool arrive, as they did ahead of Galatasaray’s 2013 quarter-final against Real Madrid when drainage failures nearly forced a venue change.

This is according to Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet, who have reported that there are serious concerns.

Galatasaray reportedly made a statement to them last week that read:

“As Galatasaray Sports Club, we cooperate with companies with international experience in order to ensure that our field is always in the best condition.

“In this context, RAMS Park’s grass field is managed by SIS Pitches, one of the leading grass field companies in Europe, within the scope of turnkey maintenance?

Our club’s expert team closely monitors every stage of the process and provides regular checks.”

Meanwhile, according to another Turkish outlet in Haber Kenti,  the club detailed how they had:

– Removed the old turf and cleaned remaining fragments
– Re-levelled the soil and overseeded with new grass varieties
– Applied a sand dressing to aid root establishment

According to the club, an “extraordinary heatwave” after these works caused surface temperatures to exceed 52 °C, which, combined with RAMS Park’s enclosed design, led to temporary grass loss.

Galatasaray confirmed that UEFA and the Turkish Football Federation’s independent agronomists have regularly inspected the turf and that further remedial measures- additional top-dressing, aeration and overseeding -are underway to restore full grass coverage before Liverpool’s Champions League tie.

Despite ongoing maintenance, Turkish media report continued unease over the pitch’s readiness, with local forums debating whether Rams Park can meet UEFA’s requirements

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