I hate artificial turf.
If you've read this space long enough, or listened to any of the various podcasts I've been on over the years, you'll know just how much I hate turf.
I once was a part of an infamous hour-long podcast named "Grass to BMO" where myself, Ben Rycroft and Daniel Squizzato consumed several beers and then celebrated the decision to rip the plastic out of BMO Field by recording a show that, at least in theory, was in English. Don't bother looking. Daniel burned the tapes.
My various "keep the Argos the hell out of BMO" articles/rants have all had a hatred of artificial turf at their root.
When Canada was first awarded the 2015 Women's World Cup, and it became clear that the tournament would be played on turf, I was one if the first voices that screamed out in opposition.
I was against the idea largely because I anticipated exactly what was about to happen. That is to say it was predictable that the surface the tournament is being played on would end up derailing any positive that might come from the tournament. When the history of 2015 is written, Canada 2015 will be remembered as the tournament that forced the women to play on plastic. Every injury that happens next summer will be blamed on the turf and the actual event will be forgotten in the gender discrimination narrative that is currently being created.
Concerns about increased injury risk on turf didn't apply to my opposition. That's because I recognize there isn't an increased injury risk in a short duration tournament. What proof there is that turf is more dangerous (and it's extremely minimal) focuses on long-term use injuries. The tournament isn't long enough for that to matter.
I don't care for the way the ball rolls and bounces on turf, but I can't make an argument that it's unfair to play the tournament on turf because of that. It's a taste preference and, besides, it's the same surface for everyone.
No, my opposition was always based on perception. And my perception is that the CSA should have bit the bullet and played the tournament on temporary grass. That surface probably would have been worse, but no matter.
Other things to file under don't matter is what I, or Abby Wambach, want. The tournament is being played on turf.
So, should the women continue to make noise against it? It's their right to do so (and please understand that it's their right to do so. In no way am I trying to imply otherwise), but I'm not sure it's in their interest.
If their goal is to have a meaningful dialog about ensuring the surfaces are of top quality then yes, absolutely it is. However, it appears that their goal is to shame the CSA and FIFA with a claim that is, at best, precarious.
It's nice that Hollywood stars like Tom Hanks are Tweeting their support for claims that aren't supported by anything more than player's perceptions, but that doesn't mean it's helpful. It's divisive and it's coming off as having partisan roots (whether intended or not this is coming off as a USA v Canada fight).
I think we can all agree that fighting gender discrimination in football is worthwhile. But, are we sure playing a World Cup on turf is the best example of that? I'd be more inclined to fight the women's fight if they were more vocal about ensuring girls in the developing world are given equal access to the game. I'd be more engaged with this issue if Abby Wambach had been more vocal in the fight against the hijab ban that thankfully was won.
Instead I find myself in an uncomfortable position of pointing out that many of the arguments being made against turf lack proof in the form of actual independent research.
Instead I'm watching as mostly American fans run to the defense of their favourite players without considering the pragmatic reasons the tournament is being played on turf, nor considering that an increase in turf acceptance could allow more parts of the world to be involved in top flight football (turf is cheaper and thus allows more accessibility in the developing world).
I hate turf, but being forced to play a World Cup final on it is truly a First World Problem if I've ever seen one.