The reason why the grass at Hang Day Stadium is abnormally shrinking

After a 3-week break, V.League 2023/24 returns with round 14 matches. At Hang Day Stadium tonight (March 30), The Cong Viettel will face Quang Nam Club on a field that is clearly different from normal.

Spectators watching the game could see the unusual change in the size of the field. The end lines at both ends of the field were moved several meters further from the edge of the grass than they had been in previous games. The width of the field was also reduced.

The match between The Cong Viettel and Quang Nam took place on a smaller field than usual.

Explaining the change in the size of the field, Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company (VPF) said that the reduced size of the field still ensures competition standards according to football rules issued by the International Football Association Board - IFAB.

This change is made to maintain the grass in the area in front of the goal in the D stand and part of the grass in the touchline area near the away team's technical cabin.

A representative of Hanoi FC - one of the three clubs using Hang Day Stadium as their home ground - said that the stadium management is currently fixing the problem of the damaged grass in the area of the two goalposts. In addition, many areas on the field have seriously sunk and need to be renovated, replanted with grass, and the foundation needs to be reinforced.

The grass surface of Hang Day Stadium has many damaged areas, forcing the stadium management to temporarily reduce the size of the field.

Under favorable conditions, the size of the playing field at Hang Day Stadium will return to normal for the National Cup matches scheduled to take place at the end of April.

Currently, Hang Day Stadium is the home ground of 3 teams: Hanoi FC, Hanoi Police Club and The Cong Viettel. According to the regulations of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), one of the 3 teams must move to another stadium. However, the 3 clubs and VFF, VPF have not yet agreed on a solution.