February 21 – With drought and water shortages occurring worldwide, artificial turf is seen as one way to combat the crisis, however, leading figures in the game, including Brazilian superstars Neymar, Thiago Silva, and Memphis Depay, are not so sure.
In an online campaign released on Tuesday, they all had the same message, highlighting their suspicion of increased injury due to artificial surfaces.
With Neymar’s return to Santos the big news in Brazil, it is feared that he will not play on artificial turf, however, some clubs in Brazil’s top division, have turf fields to allow for multiple uses.
“It is worrying to see the direction Brazilian football is taking. With the size and representation of our sport, this debate shouldn’t even exist. In the most respected leagues in the world, players are heard and investments are made to ensure the quality of the pitch in the stadiums,” the footballers said in a statement.
“The solution to a bad pitch is to make a good pitch, it is as simple as that. Soccer is natural, not artificial.”
Currently, the defending champions, Botafogo, Palmerias and Athletico Paranaense are clubs that have used artificial surfaces, which has led to aging stars and players returning from injury to boycott those games. While Depay, who plays for Corinthians isn’t quite in that category, Neymar and Silva certainly are moving to the conclusion of their careers with Neymar’s injury issues well documented.
Palmerias issued a statement saying that the criticism of their artificial turf is superficial and not based on science.
The club said the playing surface has been certified by FIFA, and subject to regular inspections since 2020 “so that it has the same parameters of a natural grass pitch in a perfect state.”
With more clubs moving to 5G playing surfaces that are a hybrid of synthetic turf and grass, this issue will be in the forefront of players for years to come.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1740172291labto1740172291ofdlr1740172291owedi1740172291sni@o1740172291fni1740172291