Premiership pitch debate 'about standards & criteria'

BBC News

18 hours ago

Requiring clubs to have grass pitches in the Scottish Premiership "is about standards and criteria", says SPFL chief operating officer Calum Beattie.Top-flight clubs voted to phase out artificial surfaces in time for the 2026-27 season.Kilmarnock have announced plans to return to grass at Rugby Park in time for that deadline, while promoted sides Falkirk and Livingston have recently put down new synthetic pitches.Beattie says the league will "engage" with Falkirk, Livingston and Kilmarnock over their long-term plans.And he said on BBC Sportsound: "This debate isn't just about artificial pitches, this is about standards and criteria across the league."In England, you've got to have a grass surface in League Two to get promoted into professional football."The league recognises the place for artificial surfaces in the game in Scotland, the community benefits are clear."It's whether or not they have a place at the top table of the game in Scotland and that is where the debate has gathered pace over the last couple of years."Responding to a question over whether there had been any legal challenge from Falkirk about the rules on pitches, Beattie explained: "There's been no legal challenge because we're working with them about what we can do to help them address the challenges they've got with their surface."I've got real sympathy for Falkirk. They put down their artificial pitch in full compliance with the rules at the time and they had a legitimate expectation that they could've used that for a longer period of time."Livingston, clearly put down a new artificial surface this summer. That came off the back of us doing a spot check at Livingston. It became clear that their surface would not meet the testing that is required in the Premiership."Livingston didn't have a choice for this season. In the Premiership, there's already a higher bar that's applied for testing and that is every Premiership club with an artificial surface has got to pass spot checks unannounced at three points during the season."They then had a decision to make. They had permission to use an artificial pitch this coming season. From our perspective, grass would've been the preferred option. "But Livingston, rightly from their perspective, had the option to put down a new one and we'll be engaging with them about their wider plans going forward."