FIFA has recently done some actions that have infuriated the World Cup’s Women Players. They have planned to use artificial playing sufaces for the Women’s World Cup 2015 which is going to be held in Canada. This action kind of alleges gender discrimination as they have planned to use artificial technology for the hardworking women players. This policy have offended the famous women soccer players thus they have threatened to file case against FIFA for gender discrimination suit.
For top-level soccer, artificial surfaces are widely considered inferior to actual grass. The group of female players states that they’re set to be subjected to sub-standard playing conditions for the 2015 cup.
“Consigning women to a second-class surface is gender discrimination that violates European charters and numerous provisions of Canadian law, including human rights codes and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,” reads part of a letter that the group of more than 40 athletes sent to FIFA on July 28, but was just obtained by Fox Sports this week.
Carrie Serwetnyk, a former member of the Canadian national team, told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) that he saw World Cup 2015 in Brazil and he knew that no men players would be okay to play in an artificial surface rather than grass. He knew that they would be offended by it and how is it okay for women to play in artificial surface. Further, he adds,”What kind of message does it send to the players? This act totally shows gender discrimination,”
Artificial turf has come a long way since the bright-green, carpet-like AstroTurf surfaces that were common on many American football fields two decades ago; in many cases it now resembles actual grass to the naked eye. But it’s seen by most soccer players as a second-rate playing surface because the ball travels faster than it does on normal grass, falls are not as well-cushioned and some say it can contribute to other injuries.
The 2015 Women’s World Cup will be held at six venues across Canada, all of them featuring artificial playing surfaces. While artificial turf is not often used in high-level pro soccer, it’s not completely unheard of. The Vancouver Whitecaps of Major League Soccer, for example, play their home games on artificial turf at one of the venues set to host matches in 2015.
According to Fox Sports, United States Women’s National Team players Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan and Heather O’Reilly, as well as Germany goalkeeper and reigning women’s world player of the year Nadine Angerer are among the players to threaten to sue FIFA for artificial surface ground.
“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 players’ letter to FIFA reads.
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