Why can't Hearts FC play their home European games at Tynecastle?

[Lynn_M]

I know that it's because their pitch isn't considered big enough by EUFA, but it's still big enough to comply with the general laws of the game, i.e. biggar than the minimum 100x50 yards. Wasn't Highbury one of the smallest pitches in the country? No one stopped them playing european games.

More obscurely, 1920's FA Cup giant killers West Stanley FC. (they once reached the 4th round and were beaten by Tottenham) reduced the size of their pitch to accommodate a greyhound track and were forbidden from thereon from competing in the FA Cup, but carried on their league programme in the Northern (or was it the North Eastern) League. Wether or not their pitch then didn't exceed the minimum 100x50 I do not know.

So, when did EUFA and the FA start ignoring the basic rules of the game?

[Skyline D]

I think it's more to do with the proximity of the stands to the pitch than the size of the pitch itself. And to pull the pitch back far enough away from the stands would render it too small for use.

There is certainly a minimum pitch size for European games though and it's bigger than the minimum pitch size for domestic ones. It's one of the (many) reasons why Queen of the South couldn't use Palmerston park for their brief European foray this season.

[Lynn_M]

Thanks, Skyline.

[Lynn_M]

(should be TWO stars, but it's only come up as one).