(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) While France and Switzerland largely got what they wanted with a 0-0 draw at Euro 2016 on Sunday, it was a night of shame for ground staff and sports manufacturers.
Four Swiss players had to change ripped shirts, the Adidas match ball, sold outside for 140 euros ($158), burst and a cut-up pitch at the Stade Pierre Mauroy, that had to be patched up by groundsmen at halftime, sent players sliding. The Lille pitch, beneath a retractable roof, still has to host an Italy v Ireland clash on Wednesday, a last-16 fixture and a quarterfinal. "It was better in Marseille but it was annoying. I don''t know who is responsible. We''re only in the group stage and having a pitch in that state already is not a good thing," said France coach Didier Deschamps. Goalkeeper and man of the match Yann Sommer, whose shirt was not ripped, said the kit damage was more down to the nature of the match. Meanwhile, football kit manufacturer Puma is investigating why the shirts of at least four Swiss players got ripped in Sunday''s goalless draw against France at Euro 2016. The game, which saw Switzerland join France into the knockout phase, was not unduly rough or dirty, yet three times in the first half Swiss players had to go to the sidelines to swap their torn tops. "Seeing our shirts being ripped in a match last night was the first time we have experienced such an issue. Five PUMA teams have played 10 games in this tournament without such problems," the German manufacturer said in a statement.
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