Muddy pitch at Čair as Shkëndija (A) face Tikvesh
The 12th‑round match on 1 November 2026 at Čair was played on a waterlogged surface that hampered both teams.
On 1 November 2026, in the 12th round of the national first league, Shkëndija (A) and Tikvesh met at Čair under clearly poor pitch conditions: the playing surface was waterlogged and muddy, making normal football difficult.
The scene at Čair before kickoff showed a field saturated by rain, with large patches of mud across both halves. Players from both teams had to cope with limited footing and frequent slips, which disrupted passing and tempo.
Coaches and local observers warned that such conditions reduce the match quality despite the fact that both sides arrived as competitive outfits. Organisers face criticism for allowing the fixture to proceed on a surface many considered unsafe for high-level play.
Historic comparison and seasonal pattern
Officials and fans noted that this kind of pitch — poor from October–November through to April — has become a recurrent problem for some domestic venues. Some commentators even compared the image to matches “from the 19th century,” underlining the mismatch between expectation and reality in November 2026.
Earlier in the match, Simonovski put Shkëndija in front: "Half-time: Simonovski gives Shkëndija (A) the lead on the Čair mud!" The goal arrived despite the difficult surface and shaped the tone of the game going into the break.
Calls for faster improvements to drainage and pitch maintenance at Čair grew louder after the match; many say that the stadium should meet minimum standards for top-flight football before hosting future league fixtures.
Photo: press material from the event
