THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BARCELONA, Spain — Barcelona has filed a complaint to UEFA about the state of the San Siro pitch in its 0-0 draw with AC Milan in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals.
The defending champions say they filed the complaint late Wednesday after the match in which their players lost their footing and kicked up clumps of turf from the ground.
Lionel Messi slipped when taking a free kick in a dangerous position early in the first half, slicing his shot for the ball to bounce out for a goal kick.
Milan replied by saying the pitch wasn’t watered because it was humid.
"The general conditions of the pitch, on which FC Barcelona trained regularly the night before without citing any problem, were considered approved by both the referees and the UEFA delegates during yesterday morning’s check," Milan said Thursday in a statement.
The second leg will be held next Tuesday at Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium.