Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll has criticised the Allianz Arena playing surface as a 'nightmare' after the NFL Germany game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Seahawks lost their first game since September, winning four on the bounce before being taken down by Tom Brady and the Buccaneers, who were able to shut down the Seahawks impressive running game.
Rookie running back Kenneth Walker has been a revelation this season, but was unable to impress in Germany, as he, and a number of offensive players on both sides of the ball, did not look comfortable on the playing surface.
The Allianz Arena is known for having one of the better playing surfaces in Europe for football, with NFL players being used to playing on artificial grass (turf), as well as grass over in the United States. And Carroll confirmed that his players were not comfortable playing on the surface.
Speaking on Seattle Sports radio, coach Carroll said that the field in Munich was "a nightmare'' because players never knew when footing might give way. He would go on to say : "it's equal... both sides had to go against that.''
The Seahawks veteran pass-rusher, who is the only NFL player to have played in five different countries, said: "The NFL made us fly 10 hours to play on a terrible ass field like that s**** krazy."
The Buccaneers also shared their concerns with the playing surface, with Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles also lamenting the conditions. He said: "We kind of understood what we had to wear. But it was real slippery and short, so again, both sides had to play."
Munich had seen rain and heavy fog throughout the Saturday night before the game, which was said to have played a big impact in the playing conditions at the Allianz Arena.
The NFL will return to Germany next season, but it is not known whether the game will be played in Munich.
But both defences played well in the game, limiting big players from either offense, as Brady's Bucs secured a much-needed victory to go into their bye week at 5-5 and top of their division.
Although losing, the Seahawks will be pleased with their season too, after originally being thought to have one of the worst rosters in the NFL, they currently lead their division at 6-4.
