Blatter: "Artificial surface is the future"

[MetroFever]

Giants Stadium officials have spent millions installing temporary grass fields for the 1994 men's World Cup and the 1999 women's World Cup, as well as other international matches over the years.

But in recent years, countries -- especially those with consistently cold weather where grass fields are nearly impossible to maintain year-round -- have appealed to FIFA to play games on artificial surfaces. Their plight, as well as the advancements in the artificial turf industry, has apparently changed things.

In China to attend the Asian Cup, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said he is now a proponent of artificial surfaces and called on nations to build more of them to improve their standard of soccer.

"Playing on artificial surfaces, that is the future of football," Blatter said. "An artificial turf means less injuries."

http://www.nj.com/metrostars/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1092127955104700.xml


Suprising that Blatter is warming up to this idea.

[Sagy]

"Playing on artificial surfaces, that is the future of football," Blatter said. "An artificial turf means less injuries."
A Great number of Baseball and American Football players will disagree with the above statement.

[Anthology]

[QUOTE=MetroFever]

"Playing on artificial surfaces, that is the future of football," Blatter said. "An artificial turf means less injuries."

What a complete load of bull. Artificial turf means many, many more injuries. Even the "new" turf isn't all that great, hard to get traction and you get alot of sprained ankles on that stuff.

Also, I remember a few years ago in a NFL Football game, it was my beloved Jaguars vs. the NY Giants (or was it the Jets...well, one of the NY teams) in a Sunday night game. Well, not only did one player sprain an ankle because of the evil turf, but A LARGE SECTION OF IT CAME UP IN THE MIDDLE OF A PLAY. A piece of the turf came up on the line of scrimmage, the thing came unzipped and flew up. It was so ridiculous, there is almost no advantage to turf, unless you play in Green Bay, but they use grass anyway!!!

[DoyleG]

This comes from the guy who once said "The Future is Female".

Only Sepp.