FC Seoul forward Jesse Lingard expressed frustration about the poor condition of the grass on South Korean soccer fields.
Seoul secured a 1-0 victory against Suwon FC in their home match for the Hana Bank K League 1 2024 Round 32 at Seoul World Cup Stadium. Lingard contributed to the win by assisting the decisive goal scored by Ilyuchenko in the 66th minute from a corner kick, marking his first assist in the K League.
The condition of the grass was a major topic of discussion during the match. Recently, stadiums across South Korea, including Seoul World Cup Stadium, have faced significant turf issues. Extreme heat and heavy rain have damaged the grass, exposing bare patches and resulting in an uneven playing surface.
National team captain Son Heung-min (Tottenham) also addressed the issue after an international match, stating, “This issue is directly related to our performance. Improvement is necessary.” In light of ongoing debates about field conditions, the home match for the third qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup has been relocated from Seoul to Yongin.
Despite multiple restoration efforts, the playing surface at Seoul World Cup Stadium remains problematic. It causes players to grapple with uneven bounces and slip while trying to change direction.
Lingard, visibly frustrated, shook his head when an interpreter asked about the turf. “The condition of the grass is serious,” he remarked candidly.
As he has experience in the English Premier League, he explained, “In the Premier League, the pitch quality allows you to focus purely on the game. Here, you must concentrate on controlling the ball before thinking about the next play.”
He continued, “Seoul plays excellent soccer, but we desperately need a better playing surface to maintain that level.”
While he refrained from blaming the field for any defeats, Lingard added, “I’m confident that with improved conditions, we can certainly perform better.”
Coaches from both teams voiced their concerns regarding the turf issues. Suwon FC’s coach, Kim Eun Jung, stated, “If the grass had been better, we would have scored.”
He noted, “Anderson had a great chance but missed it due to the irregular bounce. The grass affected not only our performance but also Seoul’s. Everyone needs to pay more attention to the playing conditions for the sake of performance.”
Seou FCl’s head coach, Kim Gi Dong, remarked, “I was surprised when I went onto the pitch to greet the fans. Fortunately, the players weren’t injured. The poor conditions made it difficult to produce a quality match. We need to show a good game to the fans, and it’s truly disappointing.”
