Shanghai pitch unsafe for Beckham, coach says

SHANGHAI: English football star David Beckham is fit to play a full exhibition game in Shanghai, but authorities must first clean up a pitch in terrible condition, LA Galaxy's head coach said Monday.

"Beckham could play up to 90 minutes, he is fit. We also have to see the circumstances of the pitch, it is not the best one," Rudd Gullit told reporters after training at Shanghai's Outdoor stadium.

Fabio Capello, current England and former coach of Real Madrid, overlooked Beckham for England's clash against Switzerland on the grounds that the 32-year-old superstar was not in tip-top shape.

The former Real and Manchester United player is still one game short of his 100th international cap, a milestone that only five other Englishman have achieved.

After arriving in Shanghai on Sunday, Beckham told reporters that getting fit enough to play again for England was a top priority.

"All I can do now is to get my fitness and play as many games as possible. We will just have to wait and see," Beckham said.

But whether Chinese fans get to see Beckham lace-up for the Galaxy's clash Wednesday against a Shanghai-Hong Kong team will depend on the hazardous pitch being adequately swept, Gullit said.

"The pitch is in bad shape and dangerous, there were stones and bones, shells, everything was on the pitch. It is pretty difficult to play on it, so I hope they can clean it," he said.

Agencies

(China Daily 03/04/2008 page24)