A top official for soccer’s international governing body is standing firm on the decision to play the 2015 Women’s World Cup on artificial turf, dismissing claims by a group of players who say that’s gender discrimination.
FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke was peppered with questions about the artificial turf controversy Friday at an Ottawa news conference in advance of Saturday’s draw for next year’s World Cup in Canada.
He said it’s “nonsense” to say that the use of artificial turf for the tournament is discriminatory.
Valcke said FIFA is advancing the Women’s World Cup with increased prize money to $15 million and the use of goal-line technology, which was used in the men’s World Cup last summer in Brazil.
