Wales fans could be out of pocket as venue for Montenegro game changes due to pitch problems

The team are preparing for their Nations League campaign which begins against Turkey on 6 September. Credit: PA

Hundreds of Wales football fans could be out of pocket as the venue for their Nations League trip to Montenegro will be changed due to problems with Podgorica National Stadium pitch.

The September 9 fixture will take place at the 5,000-capacity City Stadium home of FK Sutjeska, after UEFA deemed the Podgorica National Stadium pitch unplayable, although the attendance may be reduced to satisfy UEFA safety criteria.

The City Stadium has never hosted the Montenegro men’s national team since the nation became independent and joined UEFA and FIFA in 2007, only previously staging international women’s and under-21 matches.

The change of venue will come as a headache for the Football Association of Wales as 700 Cymru fans are expected to attend the match, many of whom have already booked accommodation in the capital.

Photographs show the pitch cratered in places with large areas of grass missing.

It comes as local club Buducnost had to switch their recent European Conference League qualifier to another venue.

Niksic’s City Stadium could now host the Wales fixture, with UEFA inspectors paying a visit to Montenegro’s second city on Monday.

However Niksic has never staged a senior international game before and there are concerns the 5,000-capacity stadium does not meet UEFA criteria for staging such matches.

The Nations League begins next week against Turkey and will be Craig Bellamy's first game in charge. Credit: PA

A Football Association of Wales statement read: “Following concerns over the quality of the playing surface at the Gradski Stadion in Podgorica, UEFA has confirmed that the Nations League match between Montenegro and Cymru on 9 September will be moved to Nikšić.

“The FAW acknowledges the inconvenience that this announcement will have on Cymru’s travelling fans, who have already planned for Podgorica.

“Therefore, the FAW is currently in discussions with UEFA and the Football Association of Montenegro to limit the disruption caused by this late announcement to the Cymru national team and The Red Wall.

“The FAW will provide an update when further information is confirmed.”

Niksic is around 53 kilometres (approximately 33 miles) from Podgorica, with the journey taking about an hour by bus or train.

Nemanja Vukovic, president of the Niksic Municipal Assembly, was quoted in the Montenegro media on Tuesday as saying: “I congratulate the management and all the employees of FK Sutjeska, whose hard and diligent work on improving the infrastructure and maintaining the field was crucial.

“I am sure that our city will be an excellent host, and our national team, supported by the fans, will win over Wales.”

UEFA is understood to have rejected the idea of playing the fixture on neutral territory in neighbouring Albania, or reversing the game with Wales hosting next month’s meeting and Craig Bellamy’s side travelling to Montenegro in October.

Wales start their Nations League campaign on 6 September, with Turkey’s visit to Cardiff the first game for new boss Bellamy.

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