FIFA dismisses discrimination claims over women's WC artificial grass surface as 'nonsense'

FIFA has dismissed any suggestions that staging next year's women's World Cup on artificial grass is discrimination as nonsense, as they prepare to stand their ground in a turf war with top women footballers.

A group of players has filed a lawsuit against FIFA and Canadian Soccer Association and their bitter dispute continued to overshadow the buildup to Saturday's World Cup draw for the June 5 to July 6 2015 tournament in six venues across Canada, all on artificial turf.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter would not attend the draw, leaving general secretary Jerome Valcke to field questions at the pre-draw press conference, Stuff.co.nz reported.

Despite persistent threats by players' attorneys, Valcke said that FIFA had not yet been served and would probably be advised to steer clear of the contentious subject.

However, Valcke also declared that if anyone is saying that the use of artificial pitch is a question of discrimination it is nonsense, adding that it is completely crazy to say that and has nothing to do with discrimination.

Valcke said that he cannot imagine no one would recognise what FIFA has done for the development of women's football over the last 15 years, claiming that he is amazed by the size and the scale of the discussion.

Valcke said that it is part of their statutes and regulations that artificial pitch can be used as natural grass to make sure they can play football everywhere.