Guernsey Press

Wales face venue uncertainty for Nations League trip to Montenegro

The game could be changed from Podgorica to Niksic, which is about an hour away from the capital.

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The venue for Wales’ Nations League trip to Montenegro could be changed less than two weeks before the September 9 fixture because of the poor condition of the Podgorica National Stadium pitch.

UEFA inspectors visited the Podgorica pitch on Sunday and are understood to have serious concerns about the game going ahead in the capital.

Photographs show the pitch cratered in places with large areas of grass missing, and local club Buducnost had to switch their recent European Conference League qualifier to another venue.

Soccer – 2014 World Cup Qualifier – Group H – Montenegro v England – England Training – City Stadium
Wales’ Nations League fixture in Montenegro next month could be moved away from the Podgorica National Stadium (Owen Humphreys/PA)

But Niksic has never staged a senior international and there are concerns the 5,000-capacity stadium does not meet UEFA criteria for staging such matches.

UEFA is expected to announce on Tuesday where the match will be played.

Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney said: “We have been asking for a new pitch to be laid in Podgorica for several weeks.

“We will wait to see if that can happen in time, but we will learn on Tuesday where the game will be played.”

IFAB post AGM press conference – Cameron House
Chief executive Noel Mooney says the Football Association of Wales have asked for a new pitch to be laid in Podgorica after concerns over the playing surface were raised (Steve Welsh/PA)

Niksic is around 53 kilometres from Podgorica, with the journey taking about an hour by bus or train.

It is understood UEFA will not pursue other possible alternatives to host the fixture.

These include playing the game on neutral territory in neighbouring Albania or reversing the fixture with Wales hosting next month’s meeting and Craig Bellamy’s side travelling to Montenegro in October.

Wales start their Nations League campaign on September 6, with Turkey’s visit to Cardiff the first game for new boss Bellamy.

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