Football: Yardage of Giants looks fine
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.(First Edition)
PLAYING World Cup games on a smaller playing surface at Giants Stadium in 1994 might lead to more defensive contests but it should not affect the calibre of play, Fifa's technical chief said on Tuesday.
During a technical inspection of Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Walter Gagg said that the proposed playing field's dimensions of 66m by 103m would cost each player an average of three square metres playing space. World Cup standards call for field to measure 68m by 105.
'On the whole, we think the teams will adapt to the smaller field,' Gagg said. 'It should not effect technical ability. The teams, they will work in the training sessions on those dimensions. They will adapt.'
Gagg said it was possible that some teams might even try to use the smaller field to their advantage. 'The smaller a pitch is, it becomes easier for a weak team to defend that area,' Gagg said.
Guido Tognoni, Fifa's press officer, said: 'This is the most spectacular stadium in the world.'
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments