Rangers' Jamie Murphy was carted off after an injury his teammates believe was caused by the artificial surface. GETTY IMAGES
Scottish Premiership side Rangers renewed its "condemnation of the synthetic playing surface at Rugby Park" as it faces the prospect of a "lengthy spell" on the sidelines for Jamie Murphy with the knee injury he suffered in the club's 3-1 Scottish League Cup win over Kilmarnock, according to Stephen Halliday of the SCOTSMAN. Rangers Manager Steven Gerrard insisted after the match that "artificial surfaces should not be allowed in top flight football." Rangers captain James Tavernier was "even stronger in his criticism" of the Rugby Park surface, claiming Murphy's injury "simply would not have happened on a grass pitch." Gerrard: "James is sad, he's upset, I think he's fearing the worst. We're devastated for him. ... We all know that plastic pitches are not as safe as grass -- that's fact, that's simple. But I'm not here to disrespect Kilmarnock and their playing facilities." Tavernier "expressed his exasperation" at the proliferation of artificial surfaces, saying, "I guarantee you that Jamie wouldn't have the injury that he got today if it had been a grass pitch. He planted his foot, got a wee nudge and then just felt something go. If that's on grass, that's not going to happen" (SCOTSMAN, 8/20). In Glasgow, Gavin Berry reported Professional Footballers' Association CEO Fraser Wishart warned the football authorities to "stop ignoring players' views" on the state of the pitches after the "latest controversy on an artificial surface." The Players' Union conducted a season-long survey last term with players "asked to rate pitches every time they were away from home via a PitchRater app." Results showed that players did not want to play on plastic parks with Hamilton Accies the worst and Kilmarnock's "second bottom." Scottish Professional Football League CEO Neil Doncaster and Secretary Iain Blair were "made aware of the results" at the time and Wishart insisted it is "time they start listening" (DAILY RECORD, 8/20).
