– It is not playable here. There is a big risk of injury for the players, said referee Marius Hansen Grøtta to news right after the decision that the match between Start and Bryne was cancelled. Referee Marius Hansen Grøtta chose to cancel the match between Start and Bryne. Photo: Håvard Raustøl / news The referee made the decision together with representatives from both clubs half an hour before the match was due to start. – Completely hopeless, Start had chosen not to put on the underfloor heating under the artificial grass in Kristiansand, and the result was that the pitch was extremely hard when the players had to warm up before the match. Brynet coach Kevin Knappen was not kind to the organizing club Start. – Embarrassing and simply too weak, says Knappen, who emphasizes that he supported the referee’s decision to cancel the match. Critical to Start: Bryne coach Kevin Knappen (archive photo). Photo: Elverum football – Should Bryne be awarded the victory? – I’m not going to be firm about that, but there is probably a rule that is there that is used if you are unable to have your course in good condition. Thought underfloor heating was not necessary Start’s general manager Terje Marcussen explains the decision not to switch on underfloor heating with the weather forecast earlier in the week. – The weather forecast at the beginning of the week showed so many plus degrees that we found it unnecessary, says Marcussen, who says the dialogue with the football association has been close before the match, and will be after what was supposed to be a match on Saturday evening. Nils Fisketjønn in the Norwegian Football Association announces a decision on Sunday afternoon. Photo: Terje Pedersen / news Nils Fisketjønn is director of the competition department in the Norwegian Football Association, and tells news that it is the referee’s clear duty and authority to decide whether the pitch is match-ready or not. He now asks the clubs to explain: – We have asked both Bryne and Start for a report on the evening’s events, and we will have it by Sunday at 12 o’clock. We will make a decision on the way forward based on the reports and the current regulations tomorrow afternoon, says Fisketjønn Saturday evening. The winner of Start-Bryne will face Kristiansund away on Wednesday next week, in the battle to secure a place in the elite series 2024. Bryne fans stood in the stands in Kristiansand long after the match between Start and Bryne was cancelled. Photo: Håvard Raustøl / news
ttn-69
Qualifying match canceled – Start had not been set to underheat – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
