Turf war over Canada's FIFA Women’s World Cup threatens to overshadow the game’s growth
The end game is puzzling. Certainly a collection of female soccer players are frustrated and bitterly annoyed that they must play a World Cup on fake pitches. They care enough to have launched a passionate legal action. But there's confusion over what this is really about. Is the artificial turf the problem or is it something deeper?
On the eve of the draw for Women’s World Cup of Soccer – which will be hosted by Canada next summer - the players at the centre of the dispute don't really seem to know. The claim is that artificial pitches cause more injuries and that it's gender discrimination to ask women to play on a surface that's different from the men's game. But there's a problem. Those complaining are in the minority.
Much was made of how many names featured in the claim that was filed to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, how many female soccer players were furious at the perceived ill-treatment. Yet, the number is widely described as “more than 40”. Quite moderate, especially considering the headlines the movement has garnered. Certainly, most of the game’s high-profile stars are all accounted for : Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan, Nadine Angerer (although Canadian captain Christine Sinclair isn’t and teammate Kalyn Kyle has an endorsement deal with an artificial turf manufacturer). But 24 teams will take part in next summer's tournament. There are 21 players in each squad. That's a final number, give or take, of 504. That means that some nine per cent of the players that will compete next summer have put their weight behind a legal challenge.
[Eh Game: FIFA stands firm on artificial turf for the Women's World Cup]
Why? Well, there are a number of reasons. Firstly, many female players play their regular club seasons on artificial surfaces around the world. And, according to Dave Hancock, a former head physiotherapist at Leeds and Chelsea who has spent the last seven years as the Director of Training and Performance for the NBA New York Knicks, it's the change to a different surface with minimal preparation that is grounds for concern.
"Whenever the body goes from playing on one surface to a different surface it worries me,” Hancock said. “The body does need to adapt and if it's not put under this strain prior to the competition it's likely to cause issues. Essentially, it would be similar to moving from indoor to outdoor athletic tracks."
So, the female soccer players have a problem. Science points to an increased risk when moving from one surface to another. But the players' legal standpoint is that artificial turf is a safety concern. Because the majority play on artificial surfaces on a regular basis, the easy counter-argument is that by changing to natural grass or an equivalent with minimal preparation, you're not eradicating the threat of injury. You may, in fact, be increasing it.
And as much as there have been high-profile female players speaking out against artificial turf, others have shrugged their shoulders and simply got on with it. Alex Scott, a well-known defender with England and Arsenal’s women’s team, spoke earlier this year about the whole surface debate.
"Nothing will change. The decision was for it to be played in Canada. We're just preparing and looking forward to playing there. The ideal situation would be for the World Cup to be on grass, but the situation is out of our hands. We've qualified, we are there, and now it's just about preparing well. That's why we've been training indoors, trying to get used to it and we just have to get on with it."
There's a danger that this World Cup becomes about a small, core group of players who are unhappy with how they've been treated. Yes, the sprinkling of stardust at any major competition is always a thrill but the best players are the best regardless of environment. They will excel on natural grass or any alternative surface. But we should acknowledge the bigger picture. At World Cups, there's also the magic of witnessing the incredible developments made in smaller, less high-profile countries. In Canada, there will be a litany of debutantes. For the likes of Thailand, Switzerland, Cameroon and Costa Rica, it's a gigantic step forward for the women's game and how it's perceived in those countries. Qualification for a major tournament and the possibility of success (however minor) on an international stage translates to more coverage and greater funding.
Women's soccer is developing. It's heading in the right direction. Last month, England played a friendly against Germany at Wembley Stadium and 55,000 people were there to witness it. That's an international success story. That fact that Ecuador will be competing at next summer's tournament when they only played their very first game in 1995 is an international success story.
Let's remember, however, that women's soccer can dangle on a precipice all too easily. A year after the 2011 Women's World Cup in Germany entertained millions with a vibrant and excellent tournament, the USA's domestic league, WPS, folded. There was a lack of resources. And interest. At the time, I was covering soccer on North American TV every night and I was amazed to see certain games take place on American football pitches. The markings littered the ground, like some graffiti artist had been given free rein before kick-off. I remembered feeling embarrassed. I remember thinking it was borderline discriminatory and derogatory.
But I can't remember any legal challenge being mounted then by a select group of the players.
More on FIFA's Women's World Cup on Yahoo Canada Sports:
----
Eoin O'Callaghan is a soccer journalist and broadcaster. Best known in North America for his TV work with Fox Soccer, he has also reported extensively for BBC, RTE and Setanta Sports. He writes about soccer for The Irish Examiner newspaper, beIN Sports, One World Sports and TheScore.ie. Follow him @EoinOCallaghan
