LAFC manager Steve Cherundolo has said it was an “absolute disgrace” that his side’s game against Real Salt Lake went ahead despite the heavy snow cover on the field.
The Major League Soccer (MLS) clash in Sandy, Utah, had initially been delayed by two hours due to the extreme weather conditions and was later halted after four minutes due to poor lighting.
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By the time the game restarted, the entire pitch was covered in snow and more continued to fall through the game. Real Salt Lake ran out winners in the blizzard-like conditions courtesy of a brace from Andres Gomez.
“It was an absolute joke we had to play today. It was one of the worst professional sporting events I’ve ever seen in my life,” Cherundolo said after the game.
“The game could have and should have been called. In my opinion, it was an absolute disgrace we had to play today.”
The snow-cover on the field was so extreme that at half-time, it had to be shoveled away to make the halfway line, six-yard boxes and 18-yard boxes visible. To enhance visibility, the officials introduced an orange ball midway through the second half.
“It was impossible conditions. I feel terrible for the players that we put them through this,” Cherundolo said. “It was just ridiculous, there’s no other way to put it.”