Pitch cover-up 'fanciful', says Manaus World Cup groundsman

The company in charge of laying and maintaining the Arena da Amazonia pitch in Manaus has described reports that paint was used to hide damaged turf as "fanciful".

Portuguese firm Red, which is responsible for the pitch in a partnership with Rio de Janeiro-based Greenleaf Gramados, guaranteed it would be ready for England and Italy's World Cup Group D clash Saturday, reports Xinhua.

"Paint the field? It's a lie," Red spokesperson Miguel Bastos told Maisfutebol.

"What the pictures show is a spray.

"We already know how the British tabloids are. It's totally fanciful news. These are sprays. It is impossible to paint the grass with a spray of 50 litres. The employee is only to apply the product in the affected areas to grow grass."

Photographs taken during the week showed brown lines and apparent uneven patches on the playing surface.

Bastos said the problem was only aesthetic, blaming Manaus' steamy climate and drainage problems for the arid appearance.

He said the pitch would be in prime condition for the United States-Portugal Group G clash June 22.

"Unless there is another storm before then, the pitch will be in great condition," he added.