Vojvoda criticises Arena da Baixada pitch, cites risk to players’ health | OneFootball

Santos lost 2-1 to Athletico-PR on Thursday in the third round of the Campeonato Brasileiro, and head coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda criticised the Arena da Baixada pitch, warning it can harm players’ health.

According to Diario Do Peixe, Vojvoda first praised Athletico’s facilities, then said the surface showed unusual wear that hampered the ball and posed a risk to athletes.

He framed it as constructive, noting he had not seen the pitch in such condition since 2021, and added the club have the means to offer better conditions as the turf has aged.

Vojvoda said Gabriel Barbosa sat out after talks with the medical staff to avoid aggravating a minor issue. He felt small pains that could worsen on this type of pitch, and the decision was a medical recommendation.

Neymar, also rested for the same reason, criticised the surface on X, saying playing there was almost impossible.

Santos remain 18th in the league with one point. Focus now shifts to the Campeonato Paulista, where they face Velo Clube at Vila Belmiro on Sunday 15 at 20:30 in the final round of the first phase. They must win and still rely on other results to progress.

Source: Diario Do Peixe