Trouble on the Turf

Trouble on the Turf

By Casey Lee

The FIFA World Cup is the most watched sporting event in the world. The Cup’s final game is the single most viewed sporting event on earth. This event has been going on every four years since 1930. For the first time in the Cup’s history, FIFA is allowing artificial turf to be used during the Women’s World Cup, taking place in Canada next year. 

Many athletes and soccer players have expressed their disapproval of using the artificial turf. Many of the women participating in the Cup think it’s gender discrimination. The players sent a letter to the Canadian Soccer Association and FIFA trying to negotiate with them about the fields.

“The best players in the world deserve premier playing surfaces. Simply put, artificial turf is not a premier surface in the soccer world. Singling out this women’s tournament for substandard treatment is a mistake. … If your organizations will not engage in a meaningful dialogue on how to correct the discriminatory treatment of women players, we are prepared to pursue legal action which we are confident should succeed,” the letter stated.

CSA and FIFA never responded to the letter. Because of this, a group of over 40 of the top women’s soccer players from across the world have sued the Canadian Soccer Association and FIFA. 

Artificial turf has been blamed for increased injuries on the field, including sprained ankles, concussions, turf burns, and an injury known as “turf toe.” The American Academy of Neurology recently reported that concussions appear to be more prevalent for certain athletes playing on artificial turf, and that women athletes appear more likely to experience concussions in soccer than in other sports. Temperatures on the turf can be much hotter than on natural grass. Turf also alters the speed of the ball, and the speed of play on the field.

Grass seems to be the better choice. Men have never had to play the World Cup on artificial turf, and probably won’t for many, many years to come. And unfortunately, the gender discrimination seems pretty clear. 

“If the men’s World Cup didn’t allow it, and they built brand new stadiums—not even put in grass fields, they built brand new stadiums with a couple billion dollars,” United States National women’s soccer player Alex Morgan said, “you’d think we’re worth the couple million to put in grass fields.”

Along with Alex Morgan, United States National Woman’s soccer player Abby Wambach has been leading the movement, and has become the speaker for all athletes.

“Even if this World Cup doesn’t get changed over to grass,” she said, “I want to make sure that we’re loud enough and we get heard by all the countries with women fighting this fight, so that it never happens again.” 

Neither CSA or FIFA have given any indication that they’re going to change the artificial turf to grass. Everyone seems to agree that if this was a men’s world cup, this wouldn’t happen. It’s not only a fight for women, it’s a fight for what is right.