Artificial pitch row overshadows King's Cup fourth round
Third division Hospitalet have refused to accept a ruling by the Spanish football federation (RFEF) and intend using their artificial pitch in this week's fourth round of the King's Cup.
Third division Hospitalet have refused to accept a ruling by the Spanish football federation (RFEF) and intend using their artificial pitch in this week's fourth round of the King's Cup.
The Catalan side have rejected the federation's decision that the home leg of their tie against Deportivo Coruna on Tuesday should be played on grass at Barcelona's Mini Estadi.
Hospitalet feel the federation is acting unfairly towards smaller clubs by insisting opponents have the right to refuse to play on the artificial surfaces that a number of third division sides use for league matches.
The club, based in a suburb of Barcelona, proposed the game be played on a local rugby pitch but this was dismissed by the federation because of its poor surface and installations.
Hospitalet president Miguel Garcia has insisted his team will not play outside the suburb. But if they refuse to back down they face being scrubbed from the competition.
Deportivo midfielder Sergio, who began his career at Hospitalet, is confident his old side will be there on Tuesday.
"I've got contacts with the president and I am pretty sure that in the end they will play. Hospitalet deserve to play the tie against Deportivo despite the argument over the pitch," he told Spanish national radio on Monday.
Real Madrid face second division strugglers Gimnastic Tarragona in their tie on Wednesday. The cup final will be played at Real's Santiago Bernabeu stadium on the 100th anniversary of the club's foundation on March 6, 2002.
With Barcelona, Valencia and Alaves already eliminated the league champions must fancy their chances of claiming the cup for the first time in nine seasons.
The chances of a repetition of more giant-killing have been reduced by the competition reverting to a two-leg format with the first leg played at the lower-ranked side.
Third division side Ciudad de Murcia will be hoping that after eliminating Sevilla and Malaga they can record another upset against first division basement club Rayo Vallecano.