A lawyer for players
at this year's women's World Cup, trying to "settle a lawsuit" against
FIFA, said that they "will play on artificial turf as long as the final matches are on
natural grass," according to Frank Pingue of REUTERS. The proposal is the "latest
twist in a rolling dispute that picked up steam in August when players
said a proposal to play the June-6-July 5 tournament in Canada on
artificial turf was discriminatory and violated human rights." The players' attorney, Hampton Dellinger, said, "The
battle over the use of plastic pitches at the women's World Cup can
easily and quickly come to a peaceful resolution. All FIFA and the Canadian Soccer Association need to do is accept the players' feasible, affordable, and more than fair deal." The proposal "lays out how top quality grass
fields could be prepared for and installed in each of the three stadiums"
hosting the tournament's final two rounds. According
to the proposal, the plan is "modeled on systems used successfully for
previous men's and women's World Cups, and is approved by leading world
experts on sports grass" (REUTERS, 1/12).
CHAMPAGNE RIPS RIVAL: The PA reported FIFA presidential hopeful Jérôme Champagne has accused his rival Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of having no program, "just slogans," and insists he is "not being squeezed out of the race despite another contender entering the contest." Champagne claimed that Europe is "not united behind Prince Ali and pointed out that the Arab football world," led by Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, had "already declared for Blatter." Champagne: "Prince Ali is not squeezing anyone -- look at who the Arab leaders are supporting. I am not squeezed at all and Prince Ali has not issued any program yet, just slogans" (PA, 1/13).
PLAYER TRADING EXCHANGE: BLOOMBERG's Alex Duff reported FIFA is working on a "confidential player trading platform to help teams track down and acquire talent." FIFA Transfer Matching System GM Mark Goddard said that the so-called Global Player Exchange will allow clubs to "share private information when it's introduced this year." Goddard: "There is a very strong need for club-to-club communication. They know what's happening in local market but not much at an international level" (BLOOMBERG, 1/13).
