Image: Mark J. Rebilas
Kelly Whiteside, USA Today, March 27, 2013
EXCERPTS FROM THE ARTICLE:
I think it could cross the line to a gender discrimination issue and it's something we can't stay quiet on, and our national team will do whatever we can," she said. "At the very least we want to be heard."
Other national team members have strong opinions as well. U.S. forward Carli Lloyd tweeted: "Had a nightmare that the 2015 World Cup was going to be played on turf! … Wonder if the men's World Cup would ever be played on turf? … Always more injuries on artificial turf. Bad enough we played our 2012 Olympic qualifying games on artificial turf. Never thought about WC"
Some games at the men's 2010 World Cup in South Africa were played on a natural grass pitch reinforced by synthetic fibers and FIFA, the sport's governing body, has a defined standard and rating system for artificial turf fields.
"It wrecks your body and changes the way the game is played," Wambach said.
Wambach hopes that a coalition of international stars can bring about change -- grass fields for at least the knockout rounds – while there is still time. One option would be to lay grass over the turf fields.