Edel Grass wins FIFA 2-STAR certificate

Adjust font size:

Dutch artificial turf producer and system builder Edel Grass of Genemuiden, has been awarded with the FIFA 2-STAR certificate for the installation of the new artificial turf pitch on the Dutch Eredivisie club Heracles Almelo ground. Edel Grass is the first and only holder of the FIFA 2 STAR certificate.

The FIFA 1 and 2 STAR concept was formulated by UEFA and FIFA and classifies high quality playing fields on the basis of a strict concept. A 2-STAR pitch meets the highest standards and passes strict tests, among other things for comfort and safety. Professional football/ Champions League matches can only be played on such a system.

UEFA designated the Dutch club as a pilot for matches on artificial turf in 2003. Since then, playing experiences have been closely monitored and analyzed. Edel Grass was involved in the pilot project from the start, together with project partners Arcadis and Ten Cate Thiolon. In summer 2005, Heracles was promoted to the top-tier, and in order to introduce top-level professional football to the state of the art in artificial turf, the Heracles pitch was recently upgraded to the FIFA 2 STAR -level.

A recent poll conducted by the Dutch players’ union VVCS in collaboration with FIFPro showed however that 88% of the Dutch professional footballers were opposed to playing competition matches on artificial turf.