Former NFL outfielder George Toma, 94, says the league’s field manager REDUCED the Super Bowl turf

Longtime NFL ‘Sodfather’ George Toma spoke for the first time since the playing surface was criticized in Super Bowl LVII, saying the field was poorly watered and sanded in the lead up to the game.

Players for the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles were caught slipping all over the grass at State Farm Stadium in Arizona, with the field showing noticeable wear as the game progressed.

speaking to ESPNToma, 94, who is retiring, gave his opinion on why the field was in such poor condition, while reaffirming that he no longer wants to help the league in the future.

Toma revealed that the playing surface was watered on Wednesday morning of match week before being immediately moved inside the stadium, where it remained for four days.

He believes the field should have been irrigated at the same time, but kept outside to dry in the Arizona desert sun before moving indoors one last time.

Toma said the decision fell to NFL field director Ed Mangan, who took over the field for the Super Bowl and used to work with “the Sodfather.”

‘So what he does, he waters it down a ton and puts it right into the ballpark and that’s it. He never sees sunlight again. He can’t do that,’ Toma explained.

After bringing the field indoors, rehearsals for the various performances at the Super Bowl, including the halftime show, were held on the grass, which was covered with a tarp to protect it.

However, in the heat and with all the moisture trapped below, Toma said he was told the pitch began to rot under the barrier, adding that the pitch “smelled rotten.”

Additionally, Toma said that Magnan did not properly sand the field and that he did so too late in the game.

“He sanded it two weeks too late,” Toma said. She only had one sanding. He should have had two or three sandings, but he didn’t s—.

‘And that was it. And not only that, she didn’t take care of it. He wouldn’t listen to anyone.

In a statement the day after the game, the NFL said: “The field surface at State Farm Stadium met the standards required for the maintenance of natural surfaces, per NFL policy. The natural grass surface was tested during Super Bowl week and complied with all NFL mandated practices.”

Toma says NFL field director Ed Mangan watered and sanded the playing surface poorly.

Players were seen sliding all over the turf and the turf showed visible wear throughout.

Toma had been tending the fields in every Super Bowl in history, but confirmed before the game began that Super Bowl LVII would be his last after more than 80 years in grounds maintenance.

If his age wasn’t enough of a sign that it might be time for him to step aside, Toma also came under fire online as a result of poor conditions.

Take has had it. “I can’t take it anymore,” he told ESPN, adding that the NFL hasn’t responded well to problems with Super Bowl fields in the past.

“The league and I are done,” Toma said. They can’t tell me what to do anymore. We’re done.