FIFA officials inspect Winnipeg’s IGF

WINNIPEG – FIFA officials were in town Saturday inspecting and touring Winnipeg’s Investors Group Field, one of the 2015 World Cup host stadiums.

FIFA has come under fire recently after a group of elite female soccer players filed a lawsuit last week with the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal against FIFA and the Canadian Soccer Association. The women are claiming gender discrimination because they have to play their games on artificial turf when men have always played World Cup matches on natural grass.

“It’s kind of discrimination. It’s really dangerous some times,” said Daniel Khodyskyi, a Winnipeg recreational soccer player.

It’s dangerous because some athletes believe playing on artificial turf can be painful and cause more injures than playing on natural grass.

“It’s really easy to get injured here and you can burn your skin here, it’s very easy,” said Khodyskyi, who was playing on an artificial turf field.

But FIFA officials disagree. “There’s different opinions, generally speaking the study we did does not show there’s an increase of injury,” said Tatjana Haenni, FIFA deputy director.

FIFA is standing behind their decision to use stadiums across Canada for the World Cup that have artificial turf.

“There’s no plan to change the pitches,” said Haenni.

The World Cup kicks off June 6th, with Winnipeg hosting it’s first game at IGF on June 8th.