‘WTF is happening’: Football fans fume as Young Matildas caught up in ‘embarrassing’ scenes

Aussie football fans have been left raging after an international match was forced to be played in ‘embarrassing’ conditions.

The Young Matildas kicked off their AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup campaign in Uzbekistan on Sunday night against Korea Republic in unconventional circumstances, to put it kindly.

Australia and Korea Republic were met with testing conditions after snow blanketed the field, with an attempt made to clear at least parts of the pitch for the players from both teams.

Although the best that could be managed was just the sides and sections of the centre circle, with players left to make futile attempts to pass the ball which instead continually got stuck in the snow.

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WTF is happening at the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup in Uzbekistan?!

They've left snow in the middle of the field but cleared the sides and centre circle for the Young Matildas' clash with South Korea.

The ball is getting stuck!

This is embarrassing. pic.twitter.com/n78mfUiigX

— Sacha Pisani (@Sachk0) March 3, 2024

seriously, what the hell? explain yourselves @afcasiancup !!! #AUSvKORpic.twitter.com/3P0JvOSJgD

— Samantha Lewis (@battledinosaur) March 3, 2024

watching them dig through the snow themselves for the kick is INSANE #KORvAUSpic.twitter.com/hDl3HqyrGT

— hells bells 🍒 (@sputnikvalntine) March 3, 2024

For real, this is unsafe, not conducive to actually playing football and disrespectful to the two teams involved. I’m not sure how anyone involved in organising this could justify it. pic.twitter.com/hm3zzIrrwh

— Joey Lynch (@joeylynchy) March 3, 2024

The weather conditions in Tashkent weren’t necessarily unexpected with Amy Sayer, who plays club football for Kristianstads DFF in Sweden, explaining to the Matildas’ official website before the game how cold climate — and potentially snow — could impact play.

“It takes a lot of mental fortitude to push through that [the weather],” she said.

“There will be some differences in how the ball rolls, how the field feels to us.

Players were forced to shovel snow with their hands. Pic: Twitter

“But I think that the strength of this team is so great. We can really push through any condition, whether it’s two feet of snow or whatever else Uzbekistan might throw at us.”

Australia last played Korea Republic in the most recent edition of the tournament, going down 9-1, and trailed 1-0 at halftime on Sunday evening after a goal from Jeon Yu-gyeong.

But they fought back brilliantly after the break, with Peta Trimis levelling the scores in the 73rd minute before a 90th minute winner from Naomi Chinnama.

It leaves the Aussies top of the group before matches with Uzbekistan and Taiwan.

Coach had to calm down players

Young Matildas coach Leah Blayney says she had to calm some players down after being confronted with a snow-covered pitch in Uzbekistan.

The Aussies came from behind to pull off a resilient 2-1 victory over Korea Republic after being greeted by the shocking conditions on arrival at the stadium in Tashkent, with snow blanketing the middle of the pitch.

Former Matildas Amy Chapman and midfielder Alex Chidiac were among the most vocal online critics of the conditions, unleashing as they watched on.

“I am still not comprehending this. How is this game happening?” Chapman wrote on X.

“Player safety must come first.”

In a sterner assessment, Chidiac asked “How is this okay to play in?”

I am still not comprehending this 🤯How is this game happening? Nice little cruyff turn in there- but this is insane! Player safety must come first #[e-mail]/cxXAOm87GT

— Amy Chapman (@amy_chapman3) March 3, 2024

Blayney conceded her players could be faced with similar conditions during the campaign and despite the heavy criticism said it was something her players would have to adapt to.

“For some of the players it was actually the first time for them to see snow, so it was about just calming them down, making them understand that these are the conditions that we’re going to have to adapt to,” she said after the win.

“I think it really demonstrated the maturity of the playing group and their ability to adapt. The group coming together in a tough time, I think that’s important in tournament football and in anything you do in life on and off the pitch and the playing group showed real character and resilience tonight and flexibility to adapt.”

Australian goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln said the player were shocked to see the state of the field on arrival and it impacted their confidence to play as they normally would.

“I think that was definitely a bit of adjustment. It was very slippery out there, very wet and icy, and it was a bit of a weird dynamic with the snow and then the grass.” she said.

The Young Matildas had to adapt.

“It would really hold up on the snow and then skid through on the grass.

“I know that everyone was definitely a bit shocked turning up and seeing the snow on the pitch and I think it was still a bit unknown in the warm-up whether we would be dealing with it in the actual match too.

“So I think the ability for the group to adapt and then the resilience you know when we conceded in that first half to come out in the second half and bring in new energy and never give up, never say die, I think that was probably a really proud moment for me being a part of this group.”

With the win, Australia shot to the top of Group A with matches still to come against Uzbekistan and Chinese Taipei.

The team will next face Uzbekistan on Wednesday night.

Originally published as ‘WTF is happening’: Football fans fume as Young Matildas caught up in ‘embarrassing’ scenes