Brighton and Hove Albion adjust pre-season plans due to G7 summit
Brighton and Hove Albion have had to alter their pre-season training schedule after recent activities related to the G7 summit caused damage to the pitches they intended to use, reports BritPanorama.
The Seagulls were set to train in Evian-les-Bains, France, but had to revise their plans due to the operations of helicopters transporting high-profile attendees, including Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer.
Club staff discovered the damage upon their arrival, raising concerns about the playing surfaces and the potential risk of injury for the squad. As a result, head coach Fabian Hurzeler decided to shift training to the club’s Lancing facility.
Despite these challenges, Brighton had prepared for the possibility of such disruptions. The squad is now set to continue their preparations in Austria, with Saturday’s scheduled friendly against French Ligue 2 side Annecy cancelled in favor of an internal training match.
The club’s planned match against Strasbourg on August 1 is still set to proceed at an alternate venue. Following their Austria-based training, Brighton is slated to face Roma and Bologna when they return home on August 8 and 15, respectively.
Looking ahead, Brighton’s first leg of the Conference League play-offs will take place on August 20, leading into their Premier League opener against Aston Villa on August 23 at the Amex Stadium. Last season marked a significant achievement for the club, reaching the Conference League play-offs, and they enter this campaign as contenders for further success.
Meanwhile, the Seagulls have seen some player movement during the transfer window, including the notable £50 million sale of Jan Paul van Hecke to Tottenham. However, the club has also secured several key signings, such as Luka Vuskovic, winger Zadok Yohanna, and full-back Costinha.
Brighton’s recent activities illustrate a club keen to maintain momentum despite unforeseen interruptions, underscoring the challenges that can arise in the modern game where even the grandiose events like the G7 summit can impact sporting schedules.
