The '15 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada "might not go ahead as planned," as attorneys representing a collection of female national team members "initiated legal proceedings Wednesday in Toronto with the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal claiming the Canadian Soccer Association and FIFA are discriminating by 'relegating' women to artificial turf," according to Kurtis Larson of the TORONTO SUN. The group's reps said that the decision to stage the entire tournament on artificial turf next summer "constitutes 'illegal sex discrimination' because a men’s World Cup has always been played on natural grass." Led by U.S. players Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan, the group of more than 40 players has "revved up the propaganda machine in recent weeks by tweeting out images of carpet burn and convincing NBA stars like Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant to support them." FIFA Deputy Dir of Competitions & Head of Women's Competitions Tatjana Haenni this week said that FIFA "has no Plan B if the tournament can’t be staged on artificial turf." The tourney is set to begin June 6 in Edmonton (TORONTO SUN, 10/2). Players' attorney Hampton Dellinger said that the group has "filed a 'motion to expedite' so that the case could be decided by the end of the calendar year." SI.com's Grant Wahl noted that would "give organizers enough time to take action if the court requires" (SI.com, 10/1).
A SIMPLE SOLUTION? The AP's Anne Peterson notes the players' stance is that there is "greater risk of injury on artificial turf, and the surface impacts both how the game is played and how the ball moves." FIFA has "appointed an independent examiner to make sure the turf at the six venues meets its strict guidelines for top-tier tournaments." The consultant is "traveling with FIFA delegation currently inspecting the sites." The players have said that they "will not boycott the World Cup matches." Many of them "believe that FIFA and the Canadian federation could cover the six fields with sod" (AP, 10/1). In Rochester, Jeff DiVeronica writes, "Tell me how this isn't a different set of rules for the women compared to the men." The players have been "talking tough for months" prior to yesterday's lawsuit. DiVeronica: "Sadly, I don't think FIFA is going to do much at all about it. ... This will be the first World Cup ever played on turf. With literally billions in its bank account, FIFA can afford this. It just won't do anything" (ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 10/2).
