Source:REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli
[Saba Sports News] Current Corinthians player and Dutch international Memphis Depay recently posted on social media criticizing the current match conditions in the Brazilian Serie A, stating that the use of artificial turf is a very poor strategy. He captioned the post: “Artificial turf kills the game. Brazilian Football Confederation, when will you be willing to listen to the players’ voices?” The use of artificial turf is not new in Brazil. Although most teams still opt for natural grass, some clubs like Palmeiras and Botafogo have installed artificial turf at their home grounds, a move that has sparked widespread opposition from players. Many players believe the hardness and bounce of artificial turf significantly differ from natural grass, making players more prone to injury when playing on it. Additionally, the ball’s roll and bounce are less natural than on natural grass, which not only affects the fluency and spectacle of the game but also poses challenges to tactical execution. We believe the Brazilian Football Confederation’s decision to allow teams to use artificial turf may not have fully considered the players’ feelings and needs. The confederation needs to find a balance between meeting the practical needs of clubs and safeguarding player rights and improving match quality, seriously listen to the players’ voices, and formulate more reasonable pitch usage policies.