Saturday's Premier League match between Sunderland and Reading has been called off because of a waterlogged pitch.
Heavy rain makes Stadium of Light pitch unplayable
Saturday's Premier League match between Sunderland and Reading has been called off because of a waterlogged pitch.
Heavy rainfall overnight on Wearside has left parts of the Stadium of Light pitch unplayable.
Referee Neil Swarbrick made the decision about 90 minutes before kick-off following a pitch inspection.
He told Sky Sports: "When we arrived at the ground there was concern about the pitch and we were called by the groundsman and the management staff to have a look.
Farcical
"Straight away we could see there was standing water on the pitch.
"It's been raining all night, all morning, we've looked at numerous weather forecasts and they are all saying there will be persistant rain until 7/8/9pm.
"It's not going to ease off and the pools of water on the pitch are getting bigger.
"I took a ball out onto the pitch, tried rolling it, bouncing it and there was no movement at all, especially down both the flanks.
"For the players' safety and the game as a spectacle it would be farcical if we did try and start it."
A Reading spokesman said it was a "sensible" decision and added boss Brian McDermott, who looked at the playing surface huddled under an umbrella with Sunderland counterpart Martin O'Neill, agreed with the decision.
