FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — After England and Denmark played in the European Championship on a Frankfurt field that cut up following days of rain, UEFA said on Friday it was working on “specific issues” to improve the quality.
There was a brief but intense rain storm on Friday evening but the roof on the Waldstadion was closed as it had been for 24 hours before kickoff on Thursday in the England-Denmark game.
Frankfurt has had steady rain all week and having the option to close the stadium roof has protected the field that was used all season by host club Eintracht Frankfurt.
But chunks of turf were kicked up during England’s 1-1 draw with Denmark and several players slipped on the greasy grass in humid conditions on a 23-degree (73 F) day.
“A detailed maintenance plan is in place to address specific issues and further improve quality ahead of the upcoming fixtures at the venue,” UEFA said in a statement.
Germany plays Switzerland in the stadium on Sunday, then there's Slovakia-Romania on Wednesday, and a round-of-16 game on July 1 for the Group F winner, which could be Portugal.
Germany midfielder Chris Führich said on Friday the field at Frankfurt has a reputation of being “not so firm” and "players have had problems with it.”
“It’s extremely slippery, it slips out very quickly and quickly gets messed up. So you have problems with stopping yourself properly," said Führich, who has played there with his club Stuttgart.
UEFA has replacement fields ready to bring in when needed. The playing surface at Switzerland’s training stadium was relaid this week after a formal complaint.
England coach Gareth Southgate said he noticed the Frankfurt field break up when Belgium played there on Monday and lost to Slovakia 1-0.
“I’ve been a defender, when you play on a pitch like that it puts you on edge because you are not sure of your footing,” Southgate said after Thursday’s game.
UEFA said its expert field consultants “have seen the overall pitch rating improve consistently over the course of the previous season.”
Persistent rain in Germany during Euro 2024 has added to issues with fields that were relaid before the competition. In Hamburg, Poland and Netherlands could not practice on the surface before the opening game at Volksparkstadion on Sunday.
Playing surfaces have been relaid during previous tournaments with turf brought from the Netherlands: During Euro 2016 at Lille, France, and Euro 2008 at Basel, Switzerland.
AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024
England's Marc Guehi shoots during a Group C match between Denmark and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
England's goalkeeper Jordan Pickford catches the ball during a Group C match between Denmark and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Denmark's Yussuf Poulsen, left, is challenged by England's Marc Guehi during a Group C match between Denmark and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
England's Harry Kane walks off the pitch to be substituted during a Group C match between Denmark and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
NEW YORK (AP) — Harvey Weinstein’s lawyers asked a judge on Wednesday to allow the ailing ex-studio boss to spend his nights at a New York City hospital instead of jail for the duration of his #MeToo rape retrial.
Weinstein’s lawyers made the request as jury selection resumed for a second day. The 73-year-old disgraced movie mogul arrived in court in a wheelchair, as he has at all of his recent court appearances.
In court papers, his lawyers argued that Weinstein’s stay at New York City’s notorious Rikers Island jail complex is exacerbating his health issues and that he'd be better off in the prison ward at Bellevue Hospital. He been back and forth to Bellevue several times in recent months for treatment of various maladies.
Weinstein has numerous health conditions, including chronic myeloid leukemia, heart issues, diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, sciatica and severe limitations on his ability to walk. A recent tongue infection was misdiagnosed at Rikers, requiring hospitalization, and he has gained nearly 20 pounds (9 kilograms) in the past month, his lawyer Imran Ansari said.
In a statement, Ansari said Weinstein is also subjected to freezing temperatures at Rikers and isn't provided with clean clothing.
“Because of this mistreatment, he has been worn down considerably health wise, and now faces the stress of trial in this condition, which may very well lead to serious health complications, even death,” Ansari said.
Weinstein's lawyers filed a legal claim against New York City last November, alleging he was receiving substandard medical treatment in unhygienic conditions at Rikers. The claim, which seeks $5 million in damages, argues that Weinstein has been returned to Rikers each time before fully recovering at the hospital.
The troubled jail complex has faced growing scrutiny for its mistreatment of detainees and dangerous conditions. Last year, a federal judge cleared the way for a possible federal takeover, finding the city had placed inmates in “unconstitutional danger.”
Judge Curtis Farber has yet to rule on the transfer request, and the issue wasn't discussed in court before jury selection resumed on Wednesday morning.
The first day ended on Tuesday with no one chosen for the panel of 12 jurors and six alternates. Wednesday kicked off with two dozen prospective jurors being brought to the courtroom for more questioning after making it through an initial round a day earlier.
Weinstein is being tried again after New York’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, last year overturned his 2020 conviction and 23-year prison sentence and ordered a new trial, finding that improper rulings and prejudicial testimony tainted the original one.
Weinstein is being retried on two charges from his original trial. He’s accused of raping an aspiring actor in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and a criminal sex act by forcing oral sex on a movie and TV production assistant in 2006.
He is also charged with one count of criminal sex act based on an allegation from a woman who was not a part of the original trial. That woman, who has asked not to be named publicly, alleges that Weinstein forced oral sex on her at a Manhattan hotel.
Weinstein has pleaded not guilty and denies raping or sexually assaulting anyone.
Harvey Weinstein appears in state court in Manhattan as jury selection continues in his retrial on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 in New York. (Angelina Katsanis/Pool Photo via AP)
Harvey Weinstein appears in state court in Manhattan as jury selection continues in his retrial on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 in New York. (Angelina Katsanis/Pool Photo via AP)
Harvey Weinstein appears in Manhattan Supreme Court on the second day of jury selection in the rape trial against him, in New York, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Curtis Means/Pool Photo via AP)
Harvey Weinstein appears in Manhattan Supreme Court on the second day of jury selection in the rape trial against him, in New York, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Curtis Means/Pool Photo via AP)
Harvey Weinstein appears in Manhattan Supreme Court on the second day of jury selection in the rape trial against him, in New York, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Curtis Means/Pool Photo via AP)
Harvey Weinstein appears in Manhattan Supreme Court on the second day of jury selection in the rape trial against him, in New York, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Curtis Means/Pool Photo via AP)
Harvey Weinstein appears in Manhattan Supreme Court on the second day of jury selection in the rape trial against him, in New York, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Curtis Means/Pool Photo via AP)
