FIFA President Sepp Blatter on Tuesday issued a shocking proposal that the 2010 World Cup could be played on artificial turf. After witnessing the awful condition of the grass fields at the African Nations’ Cup in Ghana, Blatter said, “I think it’s now time in this region to think about artificial turf,” as many African countries can be badly affected during the rainy and dry seasons. Under a new project, called “Win in Africa with Africa”, FIFA is laying down an artificial turf field in all 53 of its member countries on the continent — with the exception of South Africa.
As for the 2010 tournament, Blatter acknowledged that it wasn’t a final decision, but “we have envisaged…that the 2010 World Cup could be played on artificial turf,” he told BBC. Such a decision would no doubt spark an outrage among players, coaches and officials, who believe that turf is disadvantageous to teams not used to playing on it. England, for example, struggled mightily in a crucial Euro 2008 qualifier in Moscow played on artificial turf, losing 2-1 to Russia.
Nevertheless, Blatter sang turf’s praises. “An artificial pitch gives you the same conditions during the whole year … Artificial turf is a solution to the owners of stadiums — you can use it more than just once a week, you can use it for other sports. I think it’s better than uneven ground, where control of the ball not easy.”