Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin wants artificial pitches banned in the Premiership

Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin during the 4-1 loss to Rangers at Ibrox. Image: Rob Casey/SNS Group
Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin during the 4-1 loss to Rangers at Ibrox. Image: Rob Casey/SNS Group

Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin has called for artificial pitches to be outlawed from the Scottish top flight.

The Dons will play on the artificial surface at Livingston in Premiership action tonight.

Goodwin insists having a grass pitch should be a criteria for the 12 clubs in Scotland’s top flight.

Livingston and Kilmarnock, promoted this summer, both have artificial pitches.

In March 2019, the Professional Footballers’ Association, the player’s union, submitted a petition to the SPFL calling for plastic pitches to be axed.

Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin after his side’s 2-0 victory against Hearts. Image: SNS.

Every player from the Premiership clubs with grass pitches called for artificial pitches to be scrapped in Scotland’s top flight.

Goodwin insists the next step to improving the top flight is to axe artificial pitches.

‘The game is better when it is on a nice surface’

He said: “I know Davie Martindale (Livingston manager) and the guys at Kilmarnock won’t be happy with me saying I don’t enjoy the Astroturf.

“We have made a lot of improvements in our game in Scotland such as the introduction of the play-off system and the top half splitting.

Livingston’s artificial surface at the Tony Macaroni Arena.

“Everything has added real excitement to the game and commercially makes it a better saleable product.

“Finding the finances for VAR has been good and puts us in line with some of the top European countries and league.

“Next on the agenda needs to be how do we get back to having grass pitches in the Premiership because there is no doubt the game is better when it is on a nice surface.”

Grass pitches should be a remit

Livingston boss Davie Martindale recently said the artificial pitch saves his club between £100,000 to £150,000 per year on training facilities.

Goodwin believes a financial solution must be found to help clubs switch to grass.

He said: “I do understand Davie Martindale and I heard his comments at the weekend about how it benefits Livingston financially.

Aberdeen’s Ryan Duncan celebrates his goal as he makes it 5-0 against Livingston.

“But in the Premiership, I don’t think there is any reason why we shouldn’t all have grass parks and that should be a remit.

“If you are going to enter into the Premiership then you have got to have a surface that qualifies.

“We are probably a few years away from that happening and we have to deal with it and get on with it.

“Hopefully at some point in the future, we will have good quality grass pitches throughout the league.

“And we will find that level of investment to make it happen.”

‘The ball bounces differently’ on artificial pitches

It is understood rule change in the SPFL banning artificial surfaces in the top flight would require a 75% vote in favour from the 42 member clubs.

The Eredivisie, the Netherlands top flight, are reportedly set to ban artificial pitches by the start of the 2025/26 season.

Ylber Ramadani applauds Aberdeen fans after beating Hibs 4-1.

Goodwin said: “Everyone will have a different opinion.

“There won’t be too managers or players if you done a survey who would prefer Astro to grass.

“It is completely different, the ball bounces differently and if the pitch isn’t wet and slick it becomes a very slow, mundane game.

“From a fans perspective they would prefer to watch a game on a nice grass park.”

The argument for grass over Astro

Currently, 15 of the 30 lower league clubs in the SPFL use synthetic surfaces.

Goodwin only wants a rule on grass pitches introduced in the Premiership.

He accepts artificial surfaces at lower league clubs can be fundamental to their community.

Whilst Goodwin was manager at Alloa Athletic they played on an artificial surface at Recreation Park.

Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin during the 4-1 loss to Rangers at Ibrox.

Goodwin said: “When I was at Alloa it was a big thing in the community and it was open to anyone.

“But in the Premiership in years gone by there used to be a rule that you had to fit certain criteria with stands.

“And there were people having to put in temporary stands to quality. I think this should be something we look at with grass pitches.

“It makes our game look better. When you see it on TV, with the Astro, it is completely different.

“And I don’t speak for everyone at the club here, I just speak for myself.”

Conversation