London: England manager Roy Hodgson admitted on Thursday that he is not in favour of Wembley Stadium being used for American football matches due to the effect on the pitch.
The NFL staged two games at England’s national football stadium in September and October and is due to put on a third, between the Dallas Cowboys and the Jacksonville Jaguars, this Sunday.
England play a 2016 European Championship qualifying match at home to Slovenia the following Saturday and Hodgson has expressed reservations about the arrangement.
“I don’t really think you could expect me to say, ‘Excellent, delighted, well done’,” he told journalists during a briefing at Wembley.
“But I’m realistic, I’m pragmatic, and this match has been organised for a period of time now. The pitch, unfortunately, is not in the best of nick anyway, which we’re all a bit unhappy with.
“I think it will get put right. [England managing director] Adrian Bevington is in charge of taking this matter forward and I am sure we will find a good solution.
“But, at this particular moment in time, I would honestly have to say if asked if it was a good thing or not, I would have to say not.”
Sunday’s game will be the 11th American football match to have taken place at Wembley since 2007 and the NFL intends to stage three fixtures there again next year.
Meanwhile, the sport’s senior British administrator has revealed that plans to base an NFL franchise at Wembley on a permanent basis are being explored in detail.
Last year, Wembley managing director Roger Maslin said he was “absolutely confident” the stadium could stage a whole season of eight NFL games.
Wembley, which reopened in 2007 after being rebuilt, is owned by the Football Association.
In addition to England home games, it hosts the FA Cup final, the League Cup final and the Football League play-off finals.
It is also used to stage rugby union and rugby league games, boxing matches and concerts.
