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SportsBrighton cancels pre-season friendly after G7 summit helicopters damage training pitches
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Brighton & Hove Albion have been forced to cancel a pre-season friendly against French Ligue 2 side Annecy after the training pitches they planned to use in Evian-les-Bains were damaged by helicopters used during the G7 summit in June. The summit, attended by world leaders including US President Donald Trump, former UK PM Sir Keir Starmer, and French President Emmanuel Macron, used the pitches as landing grounds. Brighton staff arrived on Wednesday to prepare for the camp but found the pitches unusable. The club has abandoned the camp and arranged an alternative training base in Austria. The friendly against Strasbourg next Saturday is still expected to go ahead. Brighton will play an in-house match behind closed doors on Saturday before flying to Austria on Sunday. The club has qualified for the Conference League play-offs and begins its Premier League season against Aston Villa.
Source report
By: Nathan Ridley, Senior Sports Reporter
Brighton have cancelled a pre-season friendly in France after their training camp was thrown into chaos — caused by the helicopters used at the recent G7 summit.
The Seagulls had planned to base themselves at a hotel in Evian-les-Bains from Thursday, July 23 to Saturday, August 1, and use a set of nearby pitches for training. However, those same pitches were used as landing grounds when world leaders flew in for June's G7 summit in the French spa town.
Among those who touched down were United States President Donald Trump, former UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and French President Emmanuel Macron.
According to The Athletic, Brighton staff arrived at the hotel on Wednesday to prepare for the camp, only to report that the pitches are unusable. The camp has now been abandoned, and Saturday's friendly against Ligue 2 side Annecy will not go ahead.
Revised Plans
Brighton have arranged an alternative training camp in Austria. Their match against French top-flight side Strasbourg is still expected to be played next Saturday.
Fabian Hurzeler's squad have remained in the UK and will play an in-house match behind closed doors on Saturday before flying to Austria on Sunday.
After returning from Austria, Brighton are due to host Italian opposition in the form of Roma and Bologna before the start of the new Premier League season.
Upcoming Fixtures
- Conference League play-off draw: Monday, August 3
- Premier League opener: Home to Aston Villa
- Following weekend: Away to Chelsea
Summer Transfers
Hurzeler has already brought in six new players this summer, including Tottenham centre-back Luka Vuskovic for a club-record £46 million. This follows Brighton's sale of Jan Paul van Hecke to Tottenham for £52 million.
Last Season's Performance
Brighton finished eighth last season and "challenged the establishment," according to Hurzeler.
"I think overall we did," the German said in a post-season interview with club media. "Of course, we still see some improvements; we still see potential where we could have done better through the season, but overall we faced a lot of adversity, we faced a lot of challenges... But we always went through it; we always came back stronger."
Where will Brighton finish this season? Give us your prediction in the comments section.
Source
Mirror - FootballWestern
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Brighton Cancels Pre-Season Friendly After G7 Summit Helicopters Damage Training Pitches