Aloha Stadium manager Scott Chan told the Stadium Authority today he expects the facility “will be vindicated” in the controversy over the cancelation of the soccer exhibition by the U. S. Women’s National Team.

“We still take the position that the facility is safe and that there is nothing wrong with the field,” Chan said at the authority’s first meeting since the Dec. 6 match with Trinidad and Tobago was abruptly canceled after several players objected to the conditions.

The State Attorney General’s Office is conducting a review, and a class-action lawsuit of ticket buyers is currently pending in state court.

Nine members of the Authority went into executive session with their attorneys to discuss the situation, part of which was scheduled to include an on-the-field tour of the turf.

Prior to the executive session, Chan said “Again, we believe that it was a preference (for the U. S. Soccer Federation to cancel) and it is the right of every client to say whether or not they choose to play on it,” Chan said. “But, to say that it is unsafe … Well, we have experts that come in to evaluate and certify our field.”

Chan said, “So, I want to make it very clear that if they are not playing it is because it is their preference, then they should not be using the (excuse) that it is unsafe.”

He held open the hope that U.S.Women’s National Team might someday return. “After we go through the process and put our differences aside, we’d like to make sure that we have an opportunity to have this event come back.”