AFC to ban use of artificial surfaces in several competitions from August 2025: Sources
FAS is working with AFC and Sport Singapore to ensure that there will not be any disruptions to AFC matches for the 2025/26 AFC season, its spokesperson told CNA.
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SINGAPORE: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will ban matches in several competitions from being played on artificial surfaces made entirely of synthetic fibres from August, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter.
This comes after the AFC updated its field of play surface requirements.
The move will affect both national team and club competitions, including the final round of AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, as well as the AFC Champions League Elite and the AFC Champions League Two.
CNA understands that AFC member associations were informed of the move on Wednesday (Jun 11), and member associations affected by the decision have been requested to nominate an alternative stadium for all home matches.
This change could affect clubs such as the Lion City Sailors and BG Tampines Rovers, who will play in the AFC Champions League Two next season.
The men's national team is currently also in the final round of qualifying for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, but played their opening home match against Hong Kong at the National Stadium. The Lions, who are top of their group, will next face India at home in October.
In response to queries from CNA, FAS said it has "received official correspondence" from the AFC on the matter of "playing surfaces for AFC competitions".
"We are working with AFC and Sport Singapore to ensure that there will not be any disruptions to AFC matches for the 2025/26 AFC season," said the FAS spokesperson.
"SportSG remains committed to providing quality sporting facilities that serve both our community and high performance athletes," added its spokesperson in response to CNA.
"SportSG will continue to monitor the varied needs of our community and be ready to review our facilities if necessary. We will also work closely with FAS to ensure there are no disruptions to upcoming football matches."
Last month, the AFC Champions League Two final between the Sailors and United Arab Emirates club Sharjah FC was played at the Bishan Stadium instead of the Jalan Besar Stadium, where previous home matches for the Sailors in the tournament had been played.
This came after the away side expressed reservations about the latter stadium. Sharjah said that it did not "meet the aspirations of the fans and stakeholders", taking issue with its size and artificial pitch.
The pitch at the Jalan Besar Stadium was relaid between July 2020 and January 2021. It was the fourth artificial pitch to be installed at the stadium, with the first debuting in 2006, according to a March 2021 Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announcement.
FIFA reimbursed FAS for the costs associated with the pitch's installation and also funded the October 2019 to February 2021 refurbishment of FAS' headquarters.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino attended the official inauguration of the refurbished FAS headquarters in December 2021.
CNA has reached out to the AFC and the Sailors for comment.
