PFA boss calls for player voices on plastic pitches

PFA SCOTLAND chief executive Fraser Wishart has urged the football authorities to listen to the opinions of players in the debate over artificial surfaces.

The issue of plastic pitches hit the headlines again at the weekend after Rangers winger Jamie Murphy picked up what appeared to be serious knee damage in his side’s 3-1 win over Kilmarnock.

Ibrox manager Steven Gerrard referred to the injury as a ‘pitch incident’ and went on to claim artificial surfaces should not be allowed in top-level football.

The criticism came amidst condemnation of Livingston’s new surface, with Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson saying: “Being diplomatic, the pitch is very, very difficult to play on.”

Throughout last season, the union – in conjunction with the Scottish FA and Sports Labs, the leading international experts in sports surface development and testing – asked players to rate the surfaces at all 42 SPFL clubs via a specially commissioned PitchRater APP.

After gathering more then 43,000 answers, Stirling Albion’s Forthbank Stadium topped the poll, but plastic pitches ranked in four of the bottom seven spots, including Hamilton Accies’ Superseal Stadium in last place.

Wishart said: “Players are the ones with the intimate knowledge of how a pitch plays, how it feels underfoot and what type of football has to be played, therefore it makes perfect sense to ask them for their views.

“The players have spoken and continue to air their views, so it is incumbent on the footballing authorities to listen.”