The Professional Footballers' Association "criticised Football League plans to introduce artificial pitches in League One and League Two," according to Mike Keegan of the BBC. Chairmen from the bottom two divisions "indicated at a meeting in September that they are in favour of 3G surfaces being used from 2015-16." The proposal "could be approved at a further meeting in November." PFA Assistant CEO Simon Barker said, "The PFA are surprised and disappointed by the recent decision. It is a concern that the PFA as representatives of the players has not been asked to make representations before the club chairmen voted as ultimately it will be our members playing on these pitches." Barker added that "the League Managers Association had also not been consulted and raised fears over injuries and damage to the sport's integrity." Barker believes that the enthusiasm from chairmen for a return to artificial pitches "is based on inflated promises of income generated by installing a 3G surface." Former Blackburn Rovers, QPR and Port Vale midfielder Barker believes that "the long-term dangers of playing on artificial surfaces, outlawed in English professional football in 1995, have not been examined" (BBC, 10/9).
