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FIFA on Women's World Cup: 'We play on artificial turf and there's no Plan B'

A FIFA representative reiterated the 2015 Women's World Cup will be played on turf despite calls for change from players, the Associated Press reports. FIFA's head of women's competitions Tatjana Haenni said no changes are planned.
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A FIFA representative reiterated the 2015 Women's World Cup will be played on turf despite calls for change from players, the Associated Press reports.

FIFA's head of women's competitions Tatjana Haenni said no changes are planned.

"We play on artificial turf and there's no Plan B," Haenni said.

A group of more than 40 players are reportedly set to file a lawsuit against FIFA and the Canadian Soccer Association for using artificial turf at the tournament. The players say turf is more dangerous and causes injuries far worse than those that occur on grass fields. The lawsuit alleges gender discrimination as every men's World Cup since 1930 has been held on grass fields. The lawsuit comes after FIFA and CSA missed a Friday deadline to switch the tournament from turf to grass fields.

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The group of players includes reigning FIFA Player of the Year Nadine Angerer and American stars Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan.

FIFA hired an independent examiner to ensure the turf is up to par ahead of the tournament.

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- Paul Palladino