2014 & 2013 FIFA players of the year, Nadine Angerer (GER) & Abby Wamback (USA)
After receiving no response or acknowledgement from either FIFA or Canadian Soccer Association about their grievances, the world female soccer elite submitted on October 1, through their lawyers papers to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario in Toronto, stating to the effect that the World Cup organizers are violating Section 1 of Canada’s human rights code, which states that “every person has a right to equal treatment with respect to services, goods and facilities, without discrimination.”
The filing seeks an order requiring that the tournament, scheduled to begin June 6, 2015, be played on natural grass fields. It also proposes possible resolutions that include installing grass fields on top of artificial ones and even relocating games to stadiums with grass surfaces.
“Men’s World Cup tournament matches are played on natural grass while C.S.A. and FIFA are relegating female players to artificial turf,” a lawyer for the players, Hampton Dellinger, said in a statement. “The difference matters: Plastic pitches alter how the game is played, pose unique safety risks and are considered inferior for international competition.”
The group of players named in the filing consists of national team players from approximately a dozen countries, including the former world players of the year Abby Wambach of the United States and Nadine Angerer of Germany. Nearly every top contender for next year’s World Cup title is represented, although the filing does not name any players from host Canada’s national team.
This action comes after months of individual players collectively pointing out the dangers of playing on turf, including USA forward Sydney Leroux's famous twitter shot of her legs which she posted after a game on turf.
“Men’s World Cup tournament matches are played on natural grass while C.S.A. and FIFA are relegating female players to artificial turf,” a lawyer for the players, Hampton Dellinger, said in a statement. “The difference matters: Plastic pitches alter how the game is played, pose unique safety risks and are considered inferior for international competition.”
The group of players named in the filing consists of national team players from approximately a dozen countries, including the former world players of the year Abby Wambach of the United States and Nadine Angerer of Germany. Nearly every top contender for next year’s World Cup title is represented, although the filing does not name any players from host Canada’s national team.
This action comes after months of individual players collectively pointing out the dangers of playing on turf, including USA forward Sydney Leroux's famous twitter shot of her legs which she posted after a game on turf.
It wasn't until July that the plays came together threatening to sue FIFA and the CSA on the issue. However the player have always maintained a preference for a negotiated solution.
However that seems unlikely as Tatjana Haenni, FIFA’s head of women’s competitions told reporters in Canada this week that there were no plans to accede to the players’ demands. “We play on artificial turf, and there’s no Plan B.”
A player boycott also seems a no go as many of the players, including those listed as plaintiffs in the current case are reluctant to give up their chance to play in the most popular tournament for women's soccer on the global stage.
They have pressed for a expedited hearing because the tournament begins in less than nine months, and installing grass fields or relocating games — if ordered — could take time.
**Parts of this article were taken from an article by Andrew Das for The New York Times. **
However that seems unlikely as Tatjana Haenni, FIFA’s head of women’s competitions told reporters in Canada this week that there were no plans to accede to the players’ demands. “We play on artificial turf, and there’s no Plan B.”
A player boycott also seems a no go as many of the players, including those listed as plaintiffs in the current case are reluctant to give up their chance to play in the most popular tournament for women's soccer on the global stage.
They have pressed for a expedited hearing because the tournament begins in less than nine months, and installing grass fields or relocating games — if ordered — could take time.
**Parts of this article were taken from an article by Andrew Das for The New York Times. **
