Brighton & Hove Albion's preparations for the upcoming Premier League season have been significantly altered after pitches intended for their pre-season training camp in France were damaged by helicopter landings during last month's G7 summit. The club's staff discovered the extensive damage upon arrival in Evian-les-Bains, near the Swiss border, deeming the playing surfaces a potential injury risk for players.
The pitches were reportedly used for the landing of helicopters transporting various heads of state, including US President Donald Trump and former UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, during the high-profile G7 gathering. Brighton had planned to train at the French facility from 23 July until 1 August, but has now activated a contingency plan, relocating its pre-season camp to Austria.
Head coach Fabian Hurzeler and his squad initially trained at their Lancing ground on Friday before moving to their alternative Austrian base on Sunday. While sources indicate a contingency plan was already in place, leading to minimal disruption for the team, the incident has necessitated changes to their friendly schedule. Saturday's friendly against French Ligue 2 side Annecy has been cancelled and replaced by an in-house training match. A second friendly against Ligue 1 club Strasbourg, scheduled for 1 August, will still proceed but at a different venue.
The disruption comes as Brighton finalises its squad ahead of a busy domestic and European campaign. The club has already made significant moves in the transfer window, including the club-record signing of Croatian defender Luka Vuskovic from Tottenham for an initial £46 million, and Pascal Struijk from Leeds for £20 million. These acquisitions are part of Brighton's strategy to strengthen their team as they prepare for the first leg of their Conference League play-offs on 20 August, with the Premier League season kicking off three days later against Aston Villa at the Amex Stadium.
The incident underscores the logistical challenges and unexpected consequences that can arise from major international events like the G7 summit, even for entities not directly involved. While Brighton's quick response has minimised the impact on their training, it highlights the need for thorough site assessments and contingency planning for any organisation operating near such high-security zones.