Feyenoord joins campaign against artificial turf for top level football

artificial turf ten cateRotterdam football club Feyenoord wants the Dutch football association to organise a vote on the use of artificial turf by Eredivisie clubs at their AGM on December 2.

Six of the 18 premier league clubs play on artificial turf but in most other European leagues, real grass dominates.

‘There are more and more supporters of football on real grass,’ Feyenoord’s technical director Martin van Geel told the AD on Wednesday. ‘It would be great if the Eredivise opted to stop playing on artificial turf.’

The KNVB is in a position to make this demand, Van Geel said, pointing out the clubs are already required to have under-pitch heating.

While recognising artificial turf is much cheaper to maintain than grass, Van Geel said there should be different priorities for professional clubs. ‘Then contract one or two fewer players,’ he said.

Ajax and PSV Eindhoven’s boards came out against artificial turf earlier this month.

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