Artificial turf spurs protests against 2015 Women’s World Cup

Artificial turf spurs protests against 2015 Women’s World Cup
Artificial turf spurs protests against 2015 Women’s World Cup

Artificial turf spurs protests against 2015 Women’s World Cup

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Female soccer players from around the world are outraged that the 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada will be played on artificial turf. In a letter to FIFA from some of the top footballers in the world, lawyers representing the players wrote, “Singling out this women’s tournament for substandard treatment is a mistake that can and must be corrected.” The players cite an increased risk of injury and call the decision to play on turf discriminatory, because no major men’s soccer event would ever be held on turf. For the 1994 men’s world cup at the Pontiac Silverdome, FIFA spent about $2 million dollars to unroll sod over the top of the turf field. But in this case, FIFA is still refusing to change to grass, and the women are expected to bring the issue to Canadian court. Carrie Serwetnyk was the first woman inductee into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame. She joins us to tell us what should be done to level the playing field. (photo: FIFA unveils the official emblem for the 2015 Women’s World Cup soccer tournament during a ceremony in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia Friday, Dec. 14, 2012. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jonathan Hayward))