Women plan to confront FIFA head in Ottawa visit

Players challenging the use of artificial turf at next year’s Women’s World Cup in Canada are pushing to speak to FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke at the tournament draw in Ottawa later this week.

And they want to discuss goalline technology and prize money at the showcase soccer tournament as well as the playing surface.

The lawyer for the players says if they do not get to speak to the FIFA executive, the entire Australian team will join the rebel faction whose legal challenge over artificial turf is currently before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.

The players have jumped on Valcke’s commitment to keeping lines of communication open.

“We will again welcome open dialogue at the official draw on Dec. 6 in Ottawa,” Valcke said in an Oct. 29 article on fifa.com.

“I, personally, will attend (the draw) alongside our pitch expert and medical teams, and I am sure that in this way we will be able to address all concerns and doubts so that all of the participating teams can focus on their preparation for the biggest event in women’s football.”

A FIFA spokesman subsequently reiterated that Valcke, who will also attend a news conference Fri- day in Ottawa ahead of Saturday’s draw, is willing to talk.

“The FIFA general secretary is already in contact with players and members associations, and will meet with all the team representatives present during his stay on the occasion of the official draw,” the spokesperson said in an email to The Canadian Press.

Now it appears it is just a question of how.

The lawyer representing the players spearheading the legal challenge says stars such as American Abby Wambach, Germany’s Nadine Angerer, Spain’s Veronica Boquete and Brazil’s Marta cannot be in Ottawa for the draw due to “commitments on other continents.”

They have proposed a conference call for Thursday or Sunday.

“In addition to discussing playing surfaces and goal-line technology, FIFA and CSA (Canadian Soccer Association) can also address any questions the players have about the prize money available for the women’s tournament,” lawyer Hampton Dellinger wrote in a letter Monday.

“It is the players’ hope that these issues can be satisfactorily addressed so that legal action is no longer necessary. However, should the pending case need to go forward, the entire Australian women’s team is prepared to join the over 60 players already participating.”