FIFA rebuffed feelers to install natural turf
Soccer’s international governing body says it rejected informal offers it received to lay down real grass for the Women’s World Cup in part because the proposals didn’t include the practice fields.
In a statement, FIFA maintains the artificial turf that will be used for the upcoming event in Canada meets its highest standards. Regulations stipulate that teams play and train on a consistent surface.
The artificial turf fields that will be used in the World Cup have been a contentious issue with some of the players, who say forcing women to play on fake grass amounts to gender discrimination because their male counterparts play soccer’s premier tournament on natural grass. Players — both male and female — have long claimed that artificial surfaces are less forgiving than natural grass and impact play because of concerns about injury. They also say balls travel and bounce differently on turf.
U.S. forward Abby Wambach has been a vocal critic of FIFA’s decision, and last fall led a group of players who took legal action in Canada in protest of the artificial surface. The claim was dropped earlier this year when the players decided it was best to focus on preparing for the World Cup, which starts June 6. The month-long event will be played on artificial turf fields in Edmonton and five other cities.
Wambach said last week there were offers to lay down grass for the tournament for free, prompting FIFA’s response.
The governing body, based in Zurich, maintained Canada’s bid for the event included the artificial turf, which FIFA accepted on the condition it met competition standards.
“The contact (with the natural grass companies) was informal and didn’t include any range of price for any service,” FIFA said in a statement Monday. “The proposals were for the official stadia only and not for the various training sites (18 in total) to allow the players to train on a consistent surface throughout the tournament.”
FIFA changed its rules in 2004 to allow sanctioned matches on certain artificial surfaces. A few games at the 2010 men’s World Cup in South Africa were played on grass that had been reinforced by artificial fibres. FIFA rules also state that all matches and practices for the World Cup must be held on the same surface.
Canada’s bid for the event stipulated that the final be played on an artificial field at BC Place in Vancouver.