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The A-League season kicked off in October and the Sky Blues were forced to play three home games at Leichhardt Oval before returning to Allianz for the home match against Wellington Phoenix on January 18.
However, it quickly became apparent patches of turf were of substandard quality and Venues NSW decided to relay the middle corridor.
Sydney FC fans were forced to watch their team’s first three home games at Leichhardt Oval due to the original Allianz Stadium shutdown for repairsCredit: Getty Images
Sydney FC’s match against Auckland FC at Leichhardt Oval on Tuesday night was a rescheduled fixture from December, when the Leichhardt pitch was deemed unsafe.
The taxpayer-funded Allianz Stadium, which is home to the Waratahs, Sydney FC and Sydney Roosters, opened in August 2022.
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Last August, NSW Premier Chris Minns spoke of his disappointment over the playing surface after a Venues NSW review found the ground was draining at just 40mm per hour, compared to the 300-600mm per hour at which sand-based sporting fields were expected to drain.
“The surface has let down playing teams, so we need to get on it. Obviously, that can’t happen while football is taking place,” he said.
Last year, British and Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell accused the Waratahs of watering the field, such was the poor state of the surface.
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