By Paul Nicholson and Andrew Warshaw
December 5 – With the final preparations taking place for the draw for Women’s World Cup Canada 2015, to be held in Ottawa tomorrow, the lawyer representing the group of players campaigning for matches to be switched from artificial turf to natural grass has accused FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke of reneging on a pledge to discuss the issue with the players.
Insideworldfootball has seen copies of emails sent by Valcke to Hampton Dellinger, the lawyer representing the player group. Valcke makes the assurance that FIFA “welcomes continued dialogue” via its Committee for Women’s Football and Women’s World Cup so that “female players’ interests are duly represented.”
FIFA head of communications Walter de Gregorio said yesterday that Valcke has actually tried to organise a roundtable discussion with the players in Canada but they were not going to be present at the draw.
In fact, last week Valcke travelled to Paris to meet two of the French players involved in the dispute to specifically discuss the turf issue.
But Dellinger maintains that this is not enough and says in an email to Valcke that “you have no intention of speaking directly with the players.”
“Mr. Valcke, please stop the spin doctoring. Will you or will you not speak DIRECTLY with Nadine Angerer, Abby Wambach, and other protesting players about their “concerns and doubts” regarding the tournament?”
But if they are not available to be at the draw – the highest profile event of the 2015 World Cup so far – quite when Valcke could speak to them is unclear. FIFA is adamant that football’s timetable will not be set to an agenda established by a law firm.
The complaint of the players is that they should be able to play their premier tournament on the best surfaces and that those are grass. They are also concerned that more injuries are caused on artificial turf.
FIFA maintains that the turf pitches installed are of the highest quality and that tournaments and matches in North America, including the MLS, are played on artificial turf. Moreover, they say that their research shows that the highest quality turf pitches do not lead to more playing injuries than grass pitches.
In an email to Dellinger, Valcke wrote: “We will again welcome open dialogue at the official draw on 6 December in Ottawa. I personally, will attend alongside our pitch expert and medical teams, and I am sure that in this way we will be able to address all concerns and doubts.”
Dellinger maintains that his group “feel the actions of FIFA and Canadian soccer association are wrong and unlawful.”
FIFA and the Canadian Soccer Association question why, when it has been clear from the start that the 2015 World Cup would be played on artificial turf, has the complaint arrived so late in the organisational process.
The Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 potentially could mark a major breakthrough for the women’s game and its global recognition. FIFA has increased the number of teams participating from 16 to 24 for the first time and has invested in the logistics required to deliver the event on a global scale.
This is all part of an increased commitment by FIFA to the women’s game including the mandating that 15% of money to national federations via the Financial Assistance Programme is invested in women’s football.
The onus now looks like falling back on the players. If they are unwilling or unable to meet with FIFA to discuss the issues, their next steps seem unclear. Questions have been raised by some women’s football representatives whether it is really the players driving the issue for the good of the game or the lawyers.
For its part, FIFA’s position is clear. “Whatever the decision FIFA goes on supporting women’s football anyway,” said de Gregorio. “FIFA is committed to growing the women’s game globally, this is clear and won’t change. This is important.”
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