August 6 – Former England women’s captain Faye White has added her voice to the campaign against playing next year’s women’s World Cup in Canada on artificial pitches.
Earlier this year US internationals Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan and Sweden’s Lotta Schelin and Caroline Seger called on FIFA to reverse the decision – the first time that natural grass playing surfaces will not used in the tournament – and White agrees.
Some 40 leading players have already signed a petition and White said: “FIFA would never dream of hosting a men’s World Cup on artificial pitches so why the women’s? It makes you wonder if the women are some kind of guinea pigs.”
Wambach and Germany’s Nadine Angerer, the 2012 and 2013 FIFA Players of the Year, have already signed the petition and letter has been sent to FIFA and the Women’s World Cup organisers in Canada accusing them of discrimination.
“Singling out this women’s tournament for sub-standard treatment is a mistake that can and must be corrected,” it states.
It was Canada’s proposal to use artificial turf, approved by FIFA, but White said: “It’s a strange decision. I’ve retired from playing now but I would be really annoyed if I was expected to play on this.
“These pitches slow the game down, the ball bounces differently and there are more injury consequences. I can’t believe there aren’t enough grass pitches to host World Cup games in Canada. You’ve got to question why FIFA awarded it to Canada in the first place if that was the case.”
White’s comments came as hosts Canada buckled under pressure and lost their opening game of the under-20 women’s World Cup when they were beaten 1-0 by Ghana in front of just under 15,000 fans.
“This is our first major tournament, and also it’s at home, we had a lot of people in the stands for us. It was a little added pressure,” said forward Nichelle Prince. “We knew it was coming, but it’s kind of different when you step on the field.”
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