Manager of the Grenada National Stadium Authority (GNSA), Patrick Louison has denied claims being made by the Grenada Football Association (GFA) that the soccer field at the Queen’s Park facility was not in a state of readiness to host games in the Concacaf tournament.
In an exclusive interview with THE NEW TODAY on Wednesday, Louison said that GFA took the decision to relocate the two games to neighbouring Trinidad & Tobago without fulfilling the promise made by an Inspector from Concacaf to make a second Inspection of the football field at the stadium.
He stated that GFA informed the Stadium Authority in July that Grenada will be hosting two Concacaf matches in October and asked for a Maintenance Plan for the field which was submitted through its consultant.
According to Louison, the GFA General Secretary told him that he did not find that “the plan is detailed enough.”
“What was in the plan is basically the scheduling of when, what to be done on the field,” he said.
The GNSA boss disclosed that he received a telephone call from the GFA on the Friday before Carnival (August 7) in which he informed him that a team from Concacaf will be coming “to do an inspection of the field on Wednesday that is the Wednesday after Carnival (August 12)”.
He said the individual did arrive in Grenada and he along with the Curator for the Stadium, Kevin Holas, the Consultant and the Facilities Manager did accompany the Concacaf official along with the GFA General Secretary and Accountant from the local FA did tour the grounds.
“He took photos, asked questions in terms of what we will be doing next and whatever the case will be – we gave him all the schedules.
“He took a lot of photos; he went upstairs and took photos of the field and all those things. He then said to us that in three weeks’ time he will do another inspection.
Louison, who is also a member of the GFA Council, said that body held a meeting on the Saturday after carnival (August 15) and the President Marlon Glean announced that “more than likely they will have to go to Trinidad to play their homes matches because the stadium facility, which is the field is not up to standard for the game.”
“I reached out to the General Secretary on Monday when I heard that … I was not in the meeting but somebody in the meeting gave me that information.
He spoke of telling the GFA General Secretary that they made a decision on the issue without telling the Stadium Authority anything and that the CONCACAF official had indicated he was coming back in 3 weeks to do another inspection of the field.
“He said to me, oh, we are waiting on the report – by the end of the day you should have something. He sent me an email on the Monday afternoon saying – “Oh based on what they see the Facility may not be ready.”
“So, I say – fair enough. I write back to them the said afternoon and say – send me a copy of the Concacaf report – that report you receive that Concacaf saying that the field is unfit – send me a copy of it. To date we have not gotten a copy of the report. All he did was acknowledge my email and we haven’t gotten a copy of the report.
Louison told THE NEW TODAY that the Stadium Authority also received an inquiry from GFA at a later stage about the use of the field for training purposes for the national team.
He responded by telling them that “we are preparing the field for the tournament which is in October so we cannot allow you guys to train on the field.”
The top official at GNSA pointed out that within two weeks of the first Inspection by the Concacaf official, they had the field “fully grassed” and were ready to host the tournament and then GFA “came out with their announcement saying that they going to Trinidad – they are not playing here again.
He said that there was no second inspection of the field by GFA or anybody else.
“So right now the field is in top condition – we did all that we said we will do to get it to that level including the irrigation system.
“So, as it is the field is in good condition and we are preparing now for the Waggy-T Super Knock-out.
Louison charged that GFA has no qualified person in its ranks “to look at the field where it was and to make a determination and to say it would be ready or won’t be ready by the time (set aside for the football matches).”
He said the GFA Consultant and the Groundsman gave an assurance when the Concacaf official visited that the field will be ready in 21 days and they did have a plan to get the grass growing on the football field.
The GFA has said it relocated its 2026-27 Concacaf Nations League home fixtures to Trinidad and Tobago because of ongoing concerns about the playing surface at the stadium.
Grenada will host two League B Group C doubleheaders at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port-of-Spain on October 2 and 5.
On October 2, St Kitts and Nevis will face Cuba at 5 p.m. before Grenada meet Bonaire at 8 p.m. On October 5, Cuba will take on St Kitts and Nevis at 5 p.m., followed by Grenada’s clash with Bonaire at 8 p.m.
The GFA said the decision followed repeated warnings, fines, and compliance breaches. The association was fined for poor field conditions in September 2023 and again in May 2026.
Concacaf warned in August 2024 that the pitch did not meet League B standards and later cited dirt patches and waterlogged areas following matches played in September 2024.
A Concacaf inspection on August 5 also deemed the pitch unsatisfactory.
The GFA alleged that GNSA had not provided a revised field-maintenance plan or the required lighting report, rendering the venue ineligible for approval.
According to football officials in Grenada, relocating the matches will help the country avoid further sanctions and protect its standing in the competition.
GFA President Marlon Glean said Grenada’s preference is always to play at home, but repeated violations could lead to more serious consequences.
Glean added that moving the matches would be costly, remove home advantage, and deny supporters the opportunity to cheer on the national team.
The GFA estimates that the relocation will cost approximately EC$336,345.69. It stressed that Grenada has not been formally banned from hosting Concacaf matches, but acted proactively.
The association said it wants to work with the government and stadium officials to ensure that international football can return once the venue consistently meets FIFA and Concacaf standards.