undersoil

"Having issues with undersoil heating shouldn't be a massive question at this point for the most senior league in the women's game in this country."

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes said it was time for stadiums hosting games in women’s soccer to have undersoil heating like in the men’s game.

"We have to say to ourselves that it's time for undersoil heating. We've got to take our game seriously. Yes, we can have our blowers and pitch tents but it's not enough."

Attempts to clear the pitch were in vain as the undersoil heating struggled to cope and snow fell as quickly as it could be removed.

But the court said the employees – which also included several senior managers – could not be held criminally responsible because the disaster had ostensibly been caused by a “loss of stability in the undersoil”.