Rowdies file protest over Puerto Rico playing conditions

Posted Jun 24, 2010 by Nick Murray

Updated Jun 24, 2010 at 07:00 PM

Citing a concern for player safety, the FC Tampa Bay Rowdies have filed an official protest with the U.S. Soccer Federation over the playing conditions during their 1-0 defeat against the Puerto Rico Islanders on Saturday night at the Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel.

An already heavy field, which saw the ball stop dead at certain points of the field in the first half due to the amount of water absorbed prior to the game, continued to take on water as the night progressed due to more rain that began at halftime and continued through the second half. Rowdies officials had voiced their concern prior to the start of the game over the state of the pitch, looking for the game to be postponed, but were overruled by the match officials.

“We are extremely disappointed in the field conditions that our team encountered last weekend at Puerto Rico,” Rowdies Technical Director Perry Van Der Beck said in a statement released by the club. “The safety of the players on both teams was severely compromised, and we implored both the USSF and the officials on site to not allow the match to be played. We look forward to a response from the Federation as soon as possible.”

The Rowdies have sent photos of some areas of the field as part of their appeal. The side is scheduled to return to Puerto Rico for a second time this season on August 11.