Several leading women football players have filed a lawsuit claiming sex discrimination over the decision to use synthetic pitches at the 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada.
Legal proceedings have begun against the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) and football’s world governing body Fifa at the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, reports the BBC.
The BBC quoted Attorney Hampton Dellinger, who is representing nearly 50 players involved in the action from 12 countries, as saying that the objection was male football players being allowed to play on natural grass, while their female counterparts were being asked to play on artificial turfs.
Among the players involved are previous Fifa Women’s Player of the Year winners – German Nadine Angerer and American Abby Wambach.
Dellinger maintained that plastic pitches alter how the game is played, pose unique safety risks and are considered inferior for international competition.
No-one from the CSA or Fifa was available for comment.
Players from Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, France, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, South Korea and Spain are also involved in the action.
However, no English player has signed the petition, as England manager Mark Sampson believes the pitches could suit his side.
