Article by Daniel Grigore – Published Wednesday, April 29, 2026, 10:05 p.m. / Updated Wednesday, April 29, 2026, 10:06 p.m.
Shortly before Atletico Madrid – Arsenalthe first leg of the Champions League semi-finals, several people from the staff of the English team asked UEFA delegates to measure the grass on the “Metropolitano”, under the suspicion that the threads would be longer than the regulations allow.
The weed scandal 2.0. Two weeks ago, before Atletico Madrid hosted Barcelona in the quarterfinals of the Champions League, the Catalan coach, Hans-Dieter Flick, complained to the delegate UEFA that the turf at the “Metropolitano”, the home of the red and whites, would be too big.
Similar scenes happened this evening, shortly before Atletico Madrid – Arsenal. People from the staff of the “gunners” asked the UEFA delegates to measure the grass, which happened later. The English were afraid that the grass would be too big, which would make it difficult for the balloon to move.
And Arsenal complained to UEFA that the turf at the “Metropolitano” would be too big
UEFA's conclusion was that the grass met the standards, being 26 millimeters high, below the limit of 30.
Analyzing the match for CBS Sports, former soccer great Alessandro Del Piero was asked about the English woes.
“It is relevant, yes. We have this impression about Atletico and Simeone, that they are amazing in defence, that they double up, that they run a lot, but the speed of movement when they attack is amazing. And look at their attacking men: Griezmann, Lookman, Alvarez. All these guys need the ball.
I am worried that Arsenal and Arteta are coming up with such things. It's probably the image of Arsenal at the moment, they're struggling a bit and they want to look at all the details,” replied the Italian.
