Glasgow Tartans Address Safety Issues Following Inaugural Game
The Glasgow Tartans, a newly formed American Football team in Glasgow, have pledged to improve after their first game faced criticism regarding player safety. The team competes in the International Arena League, which features an indoor eight-on-eight format of American Football.
The Tartans secured a win against the England Eruptors on Sunday. However, concerns arose as the artificial turf used during the match frequently lifted, and gym mats appeared to be taped around the pitch barriers. These issues raised questions about the safety conditions for players.
Unique Circumstances Impacted Playing Surface
In an official statement, the club acknowledged that "unique circumstances" affected the fixture and emphasized that player safety remains a priority. It was reported that the turf originally intended for use at the Braehead Arena—home to the Glasgow Clan ice hockey team—did not arrive in time. Consequently, a replacement turf lacking the usual markings was installed on short notice.
Video footage and photographs shared online showed the turf lifting as players ran, with staff members actively stamping it down after plays to maintain the surface. This situation drew criticism from the club's social media followers, including coaches from other Scottish American Football teams, who expressed concerns about the risks posed to players, many of whom are contracted on a per-game basis.
Concerns Raised by Coaches and Community
Edinburgh Napier Knights university team head coach Pete Laird commented on the situation:
"I love so many of the guys on this team, but they are risking their lives playing on an unsafe surface.
Players deserve to be paid, but players also deserve to be safe."
Additional criticism was voiced on social media, with one post stating:
"It goes against coaching ethics letting people play on an unsafe surface."
Tartans' Response and Future Plans
The Glasgow Tartans explained that referees, coaches, and players had discussed the playing conditions prior to the game and collectively decided to proceed. Their statement read:
"Player safety is our priority and we learned some valuable lessons. Due to the unique circumstances before the game started, there was meaningful consultation with the referees, coaches and players.
Both teams made the decision to play with specific adjustments to the rules by the referees, including adding additional breaks in the action to adjust the turf as needed and the creation of a dead area at the back of the end zone.
We must - and will - continue to do better throughout the season. We appreciate our fans and the community feedback."
The match was initially scheduled for Saturday night with an 18:30 kickoff but was rescheduled on Friday night to a 16:00 start on Sunday. The Tartans will not host another home game until 29 May.
