The Women’s World Cup starts tomorrow in Canada, the home of lush green landscapes. So why are the women being made to play on artificial turf?
American footballer Megan Rapinoe has hit out at FIFA calling the field “second-class” while teammate and one of the most successful players in women’s football Abby Wambach tweeted that the men would strike if they were expected to play on artificial turf.
Male footballers actually have form as well, a group of players sued FIFA last year for using artificial turf in Detroit and New Jersey in 1994.
It’s another bad move for FIFA where women are being put on a world stage but feeling cut short.
Speaking to Bleacher Report, Rapinoe said:
“Just simply put, it’s the biggest competition that you can play in as an international footballer. That’s it. And obviously, turf is a second-class surface.
“If it wasn’t, then all men’s teams would play on turf. You’d see Champions League games on turf, you’d see EPL games on turf.
But it’s obviously a second-class kind of surface, and I think for us, just to know the amount of money FIFA makes every year, and the amount of money they made off the [men’s] World Cup – and I think they’ll make money off our World Cup – to say it’s not plausible to put grass in?
“I think it’s absolutely absurd that we’re playing on turf and it’s really a slap in the face to women’s football by FIFA and just a show of disrespect.”
Fans have fears that this will open up a new era of turf fuelled games within the professional circle. Others have noted that it’s a slap in the face to women’s football and that they’re not being taken seriously.
Only time will tell if the turf will help or hinder America’s chances and with an expected sell-out crowd for the first time maybe FIFA will realise the potential of women’s football.
The Women’s World Cup starts tomorrow at 5:30am (AWST).
In the words of Rapinoe, “They can say what they want, but it’s all bullshit to me”.
Bondy
Guest
Fuss I felt the ball propt up a bit or the pitch looked a little gluggy in a playing sense , but overall it wasn't bad or detrimental to a decent match, they'd have no problem when it rained heavily either I feel .
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
I've played on old style AstroTurf which was no fun. But, I'd love to play on AAMI Park - it looks superb & every professional player in AUS rates it the best surface in Australia. The only feedback I'm interested in from WWC 2015 are the players. I've watched a fair bit of the opening match & the ball seemed to play beautifully.
NaBUru38
Guest
Have you ever played on artificial turf? It's solid. You can't kick the ball high like you do on grass, which has dirt below it and you can slide the foot into it.
peeeko
Guest
i like it when someone like you brings some actual facts to a discussion instead of unwarranted emotion like others
John
Guest
Oh dear ! Never mind the esoterics. How many of you watched the games ? What are your views regarding the prospects of our Aussie girls playing on an alien surface ? COME ON MATILDA'S !!!!!!!! Are you lot with me
D-money
Guest
As long as its not that astro-turf crap then there's no real issue. Field turf is great for the organisers and if you're playing in a country with unreliable weather conditions, its probably the best option to be honest. its not going to get torn to shreds, it isn't as susceptible to being affected by weather conditions and general maintenance is pretty easy. You can play 6 games a day on it if you want. A few European leagues are starting to use it, MLS uses it and so does the NFL. Its different to play on, i'll give them that but so are natural surfaces too depending on the condition of the pitch and the weather.
D-money
Guest
As long as its not 'astroturf' then I don't see the issue. Field turf is amazing from an organization and preparation perspective. You don't have to worry about it being ripped to shreds so you can play 4 games a day on it if you want and it wont get affected by weather as much as grass (no mud etc). Yes its a little bit different to play on but so is every ground depending on weather, condition of the field etc. Considering the world cup is in Canada, probably should've expected it to be honest.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Turf aside, a crowd of 53k attended the first game of the tournament. Biggest crowd any Canadian national team has ever attracted. Expecting a crowd of about 35k to greet our Matildas when they take on the Americans. Great stuff.
Courtnie Hayes
Roar Rookie
True John, by the sounds of things the Matildas have been practicing but the Americans might have an advantage.
Courtnie Hayes
Roar Rookie
Couldn't agree more.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
From what I've read, they're using artificial turf because the Canadians couldn't guarantee high quality natural turf in June since the Canadian winter is pretty unforgiving. So, what's the preferred option - playing on crap surfaces, like we saw at several venues during the 2015 Asian Cup in Australia; or playing on pristine artificial surfaces? Scottish Premier League has a few clubs playing on artificial turf. As the Chairman of the Scottish FA recently said: "The pitches in Scotland are terrible. It’s much better to play on an artificial surface". A terrific article that removes the hysteria surrounding artificial turf use in football In defense of artificial turf: why it's time to destigmatize plastic pitches http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/21/in-defense-of-artificial-turf-why-its-time-to-destigmatize-plastic-pitches PS: The best surface in the Aleague is AAMI Park. The turf is a hybrid of artificial & natural turf - that's why it's so hard-wearing & withstands the pressure of RU, RL & football being played in the space of 7 days.
John
Guest
I have watched the first game Canada v China. My impression is that the playing surface requires a whole new approach as to how the game is played. The bounce of the ball appears to be slower and the speed of the ball along the ground seems to diminish rapidly. This is the first time that I have seen a match on synthetic turf and I don't like it. The Matilda's with their speed may well overrun the quick long ball for which they have a penchant, Look out, girls! Alen, please note.
pjm
Roar Rookie
FIFA probably had to make many concessions to get countries to actually put in serious bids for the Womens WC. Canada put in a good bid but most of their stadiums use artificial turf and the Womens WC is a minor event in the grand scheme of things that replacing the artificial turf with the real stuff and then back again wouldn't make sense.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
It sounds odd to me; surely the Women's World Cup should be on grass. What was the rationale for the use of the artificial?
Mister Football
Roar Guru
This is the eternal question the world over in almost every single sport: how to raise the standards of women's sport when as a general rule, men's sport generates the vast majority of revenues for most sports. To top it off, for the most part, it's men who are the decision-makers and in positions of power, but with a sport like soccer, in control of billions of dollars of revenue (unfortunately a large chunk of it siphoned off by greedy and corrupt administrators), it should be a no-brainer that you invest additional money into making sure the the top-line womens event is of the standard it deserves to be.
QConners
Roar Pro
Definitely a joke. Shows how bad of organisation FIFA really is. However it may also be the hosting party's fault, more so than FIFA? I don't know enough of the situation, but either way, it really is a disgusting display of disrespect to the women's game.