Replacing artificial turf for Women’s World Cup a no-go for councillor
An Edmonton city councillor says he doesn’t want Commonwealth Stadium to host FIFA Women’s World Cup soccer games if the artificial turf has to be replaced with natural grass.
Coun. Bryan Anderson made the comment one day after a coalition of elite female players filed a lawsuit challenging FIFA’s decision to play the tournament on artificial turf.
The city has not looked into the cost installing new sod at Commonwealth, but FC Edmonton coach Colin Miller estimates it would be about $250,000. Anderson says that’s an issue for him.
“We’ve invested a significant amount of money at this particular point and I don’t think investing additional money makes a lot of financial sense,” Anderson said.
Anderson also doesn’t want to displace teams like the Edmonton Eskimos to accommodate FIFA games.
If FIFA changes its mind and asks for natural grass, Anderson thinks Edmonton should consult with the other Canadian host cities.
“I wouldn’t be upset if the five or six cities that are going to host games all said ‘No, we’re going to offer you artificial turf or you can find a new country,’” he said.
No concerns expressed by FIFA
The players say the risk of injury is much higher on artificial turf, and the synthetic grass changes the way the ball handles on the pitch.
Carrie Serwetnyk, the first woman inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame, said it’s unfair that women have to play their World Cup games on an inferior field, when men play on grass.
“As a citizen I expect more from my country,” she said. “We should be ambassadors for the world right now, and this is such an exquisite, important event in our country.”
Linda Cochrane, the general manager of the city’s community services branch, said FIFA has not expressed any concerns over the artificial turf at Commonwealth Stadium or Clarke Stadium, which will be used as a practice field.
“We’ll take our intel from them; FIFA and the Canadian Soccer Association,” said Cochrane.
Representatives from FIFA will be visiting Edmonton on Monday to discuss preparations for the Women’s World Cup in summer 2015.
They have been adamant the games will be played on artificial turf. If they change their mind, Cochrane said Edmonton needs to know now.
“Anything’s possible. It’s a function of two factors: one is time and one is cost,” she said.
The players asked to expedite the proceedings at the Canadian Human Right Tribunal. FIFA and the Canadian Soccer Association have until Thursday to respond to their request.
