Manchester United opponents Rostov banned from home pitch

Manchester United's Europa League opponents have been banned from playing on a home pitch Jose Mourinho called "a field".

The surface at FC Rostov's Olimp-2 stadium was passed fit by UEFA for the first leg of their last-16 tie with United last week.

Mourinho said ahead of that game he found it "hard to believe we are going to play on that field - if you can call it a field" and even Rostov's manager made no attempt to deny the "problem" pitch.

And now the Russian League has ruled Rostov must either postpone their home games or play elsewhere until the surface improves.

United drew the first leg 1-1 thanks to a Henrik Mkhitaryan goal and host Rostov in the Old Trafford return on Thursday.