US senators push for real grass at 2015 Women's World Cup

Published Nov. 7, 2014 1:04 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

A group of 13 U.S. senators has joined in the protest over the plan to play the 2015 Women's World Cup in Canada on artificial turf.

Led by Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, the lawmakers signed letters sent Friday to FIFA and the U.S. Soccer Federation in support of players who say that holding the World Cup on artificial turf amounts to gender discrimination because men play football's premier tournament on real grass.

The players, who have filed legal action in Canada over the issue, claim that artificial turf impacts the way the game is played. They say the ball moves differently and players are more prone to certain injuries, like turf burn.

The World Cup runs June 6 to July 5.

share