Football Ferns games called off in Chinese Taipei
- Dave Worsley
- 20 hours ago
- 1 min read
A blow for the Football Ferns with their international friendlies against Chinese Taipei cancelled after ground issues.
Games were set to be played at Kaohsiung Nanzih Football Stadium in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Tuesday 8 April but has been called off due to safety concerns over the pitch.
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The move follows the training game between the sides which was set to be played on Saturday 5 April, at the same venue, also being called off for the same reason.
In a statement Football NZ said "The stadium staff have worked to improve the pitch since issues were first raised, but unfortunately, in its current condition,
New Zealand Football have had to prioritise player welfare and call off the match, as it is unsuitable and unsafe to play on.
Alternative venues were sought immediately when concerns were raised, but no suitab"le grass pitch options were available, so unfortunately the match has had to be called off.
The venu was built in 2020 and has two pitches, one grass and one with an artificial surface, and has a seating capacity of 1,200.
The stadium came in for criticism after its construction when it failed to meet FIFA certification criteria.