Etihad Stadium, Australian Football League Face Compensation Claims Over Artificial Turf

Etihad Stadium CEO Paul Sergeant "has conceded he would 'have no option' but to remove recently laid artificial turf if it was found to have contributed to the season-ending injury sustained by Brisbane Lion Michael Close," according to Caroline Wilson of THE AGE. With both the stadium and the Australian Football League "facing hefty compensation claims from the Lions and their key forward, the AFL Players Association confirmed a bio-mechanist was late on Tuesday examining whether, or to what extent, the uneven surface at the ground's interchange gate had impacted upon Close's serious knee damage." Close "requires a full knee reconstruction" after suffering an anterior cruciate injury after he appeared to slide toward the boundary line during Sunday's game against North Melbourne. His heel appeared to catch on the artificial turf. While Sergeant said that "it would be premature to discuss any financial liability until after the results had been tabled" on Wednesday, Brisbane "is also strongly considering lodging a compensation claim" of some A$80,000 ($61,000) to the AFL to cover extra payments to the injured Close as well as the cost of promoting a rookie for the remainder of '15 (THE AGE, 4/14).