This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

A National Women’s Soccer League match between Western New York Flash and Seattle Reign was played on Saturday on an unusually narrow field, drawing criticism from a number of United States internationals.

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Ordinarily the Flash play at the nearby Sahlen’s Stadium but due to a “90s Throwback” concert featuring TLC the match was moved to Frontier Field in Rochester, New York – the home of a minor league baseball team.

The Flash said the field measured 100 yards by 58 yards, which meets Fifa minimum standards. But NWSL standards call for a width of 70 yards.

The USA’s midfielder Carli Lloyd called the field “shocking and embarrassing” on Twitter. Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe also weighed in, calling it unacceptable.

The Equalizer (@EqualizerSoccer) Halftime in Rochester, where a picture tells 1,000,000 words. #NWSL #WNYvSEA pic.twitter.com/3uoQGb6S5s

Christine Sinclair, who plays for the Canadian national team and the NWSL’s Portland Thorns, posted: “How is this OK? Not good enough for professional soccer. 6v6 field?”

The NWSL commissioner, Jeff Plush, said in a statement that the league signed off on the move, but admitted it was the wrong decision in retrospect.

“As a professional league, we need to ensure that the integrity of the game is always respected both on and off the field,” Plush said. “We did not do that tonight and we apologise to the NWSL players, coaches and fans.”

Rapinoe, who plays for the Reign, issued a series of tweets, saying she hoped Plush realised how “disrespected the players feel in this moment”.

Our Game Magazine (@OurGameMagazine) WNY Flash goal by Abby Erceg. pic.twitter.com/a3fPZWNt0i

The Flash won the match 3-2 with the winning goal scored from a long throw. The NWSL is in its historic fourth season. No other women’s professional league in the United States has lasted as long.