Sheffield United have been labelled “embarrassing” after their Championship clash against Oxford United was postponed due to a frozen pitch.
The Blades, who were last in the Premier League during the 2023-24 season, said the decision had been made following an inspection of the pitch at Bramall Lane.
The game is the latest in English football to be hit by freezing conditions across the UK, with a number of matches already postponed in the lower leagues.
Salford City, Notts County and Walsall are among the EFL games to be called off, while four National League games were also axed after temperatures dropped to -6C in some areas of the country.
But supporters were left fuming that Bramall Lane could not stage a game despite being a Premier League ground less than two years ago and having undersoil heating.
One angry fan wrote on X: “That’s a shambles!!!! Fuming … And also … We are supposed to have undersoil heating I’m sure.”
Another added: “Undersoil heating not on or something. Sorry for everyone traveling up from Oxford.”
A third said: “Shockingly embarrassing for a ex-Prem club. You not got the money to turn on the undersoil heating?”
And a fourth wrote: “Surely this is a wind up its 2025 how have we not got undersoil heating?”
Sheffield United released a statement clarifying that they did deploy their undersoil heating but said a “small section” of the pitch was still frozen.
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The Blades said: “Officials at Sheffield United are extremely disappointed the fixture could not go ahead.
“In the build up to the game, our pre-match procedures for forecasted low temperatures were followed, which included the use of our undersoil heating system.
“This morning a small section of the playing surface was raised as a cause for concern. With this area still part frozen, all attempts were made to address this section of the pitch for it to meet the standard required for the match to go ahead.
“The referee was then called in at the earliest possible opportunity to assess the playing surface.
“After he arranged an inspection, he deemed there to be a player safety concern, and opted to call off the fixture at 10am.”
Sheffield United and Oxford are not the only Championship teams to see their matches postponed, with Portsmouth‘s Fratton Park not deemed playable for their game against Ipswich.
Pompey said: “Referee Leigh Doughty made the call after an inspection of the Fratton Park surface at 11am.
“Portsmouth had been hit by overnight temperatures of below freezing, with frost covers having been laid since Friday.“
