By Andrew Warshaw
December 3 – The Australian team participating in next year’s women’s World Cup in Canada have threatened to join the legal fight against the use of artificial turf if there is no satisfactory resolution, according to the lawyer representing the protesters.
FIFA officials have apparently agreed to hold an “open dialogue” with the players at next weekend’s draw in Ottawa but many of those leading the campaign – such as Germany’s Nadine Angerer, Spain’s Verónica Boquete, Brazil’s Marta Vieira da Silva, and the United States’ Abby Wambach – apparently cannot be physically present so lawyers have asked instead for discussions to take place by phone in order to try and achieve a breakthrough.
Last month the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario turned down a request by the group of elite players to fast-track the case but said the parties should instead go to mediation. Dozens of the world’s top women players have argued that they are being discriminated against given that World Cup finals for men have always been played on natural grass. Canada will host the women’s event June 5-July 6 event in six cities – Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal and Moncton.
In a letter to FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke, attorney Hampton Dellinger said it was “the players’ hope that … legal action is no longer necessary” as a result of open dialogue.
“However, should the pending case need to go forward, the entire Australian women’s team is prepared to join the over 60 players already participating,” the letter warned.
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