Celtic News

New Celtic star backs big change that would improve Scottish football as a whole

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Image for New Celtic star backs big change that would improve Scottish football as a whole

New Celtic defender Jeremy Toljan has backed calls for there to be grass pitches only in the Scottish Premiership, as the Hoops prepare to play on the artificial surface at Rugby Park.

As reported by BBC Scotland last week, PFA Scotland says there is ‘unanimous’ backing for plastic pitches in the Scottish top-flight to be scrapped, citing negative physical effects and recovery problems.

Toljan agrees that the surfaces should be scrapped in favour of natural pitches.

As quoted by Sky Sports, the right-back said:

I haven’t heard much about the pitch. We only started focusing on the Kilmarnock game after Thursday night’s Valencia match.

I’ve played on astro before, so it’s nothing new for me. But in Germany we don’t play on these kind of pitches and I think it’s better if we play on natural grass. For me it’s better. It’s better for the players’ bodies and the quality of the game is better on normal grass.

I’m a bit surprised to see so many clubs use the astro in Scotland because I think we have the conditions to have real grass here, so we could change that easy.

Football is a player’s game so if the players say it’s better to play on grass pitches then we should do it.

There are currently three sides in the Premiership who play on artificial pitches at home, Kilmarnock, Livingston and Hamilton, which is far from ideal.

We’ve previously seen players left out of team selections because the manager has fears injuries problems could surface.

That players and managers are so outspoken about the issue is evidence enough that change needs to be made, even if it is better financially for smaller clubs.

A petition from professionals will now be submitted to the SPFL. Will we see the league take action?

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