Fenerbahce manager, Jose Mourinho, criticized UEFA following their 4-3 victory over Lugano in the first leg of the Champions League qualifier on Tuesday.
Mourinho’s team narrowly won the seven-goal match in Switzerland, with Edin Dzeko scoring a hat-trick.
However, Mourinho was angered by UEFA’s decision to move the game to Thun, which was 135 miles away from Lugano.
The governing body had ruled Lugano’s usual stadium as unsuitable for a Champions League qualifier.
Mourinho said: “We tried not to make excuses before the match, but playing quality football on a synthetic pitch is a challenge.
“The ball doesn’t move as it should, players struggle to dribble, and the game’s pace slows significantly. I can’t fathom why UEFA permits Champions League matches on synthetic surfaces.
“It’s also perplexing why a good team like Lugano would choose to play on such a pitch. It wasn’t ideal for the game.”
