Moscow pitch 'not fit' for a Champions League final

The stadium groundsmen are in a race against time to improve the surface which has several bare patches and is very bumpy just two days before the match. It is the same ground where England played their Euro 2008 qualifier on an artificial pitch against Russia last year, but it has now been relaid with turf shipped in from Slovakia.

The blocks of grass had been frozen for several days and they are now struggling to bed in to form an even surface.

English head groundsman Matthew Frost said: "It's not like one of the better Premier League pitches, far from it. Unfortunately things didn't work out. The ball may not travel perfectly like on a pitch that has been in situ for some time. There might be a bit of a bobble."

Former Liverpool midfielder Steve McMahon was far more critical and fears for the players' safety. He told Sky Sports News: "It's awful and embarrassing. There are undulations and, to be frank, it's very dangerous for the players if it stays the way it is. The players won't be happy."

Meanwhile, the referee who awarded a controversial "goal from the moon" against Chelsea will take charge of the final.

Slovakian Lubos Michel was heavily criticised by then Blues boss Jose Mourinho after ruling that Luis Garcia's effort had crossed the line at Anfield in the second leg of the European semi-final against Liverpool in 2005.

And the linesman who signalled to Michel that it was a goal, fellow countryman Roman Slysko, is again one of his assistant referees along with Martin Balko.

Mourinho moaned it was "a goal from the moon" and said "the linesman scored". He also added: "Football sometimes is cruel. We have to accept the result. They scored a goal, if you can say they scored it."

Michel has officiated in a Chelsea match since, taking charge of the group match with Werder Bremen last season, and Mourinho's team lost that game 1-0 as well. The referee, who was 40 last Friday, is regarded as one of the top officials in Europe.

The former teacher speaks English, Russian, German and Polish and was ranked the world's third best referee in 2005, second best in 2006 and third best again last year.

But he also drew criticism from Martin O'Neill after he took charge of the 2003 UEFA Cup Final between Porto and Celtic and sent off defender Bobo Balde during the Scots' 3-2 defeat in Seville. The Celtic manager also felt the official allowed too much time-wasting by Porto who, ironically, were then managed by Mourinho.