FIFA considers artificial pitches for 2006 World Cup qualifiers

Adjust font size:

FIFA President Sepp Blatter told media that the issue of using artificial pitches will be considered at the next meeting of the International Football Association Board, in October. The board will consider if international club competition fixtures and competitive matches between representative teams of associations affiliated to FIFA are allowed to be played on artificial surfaces that meet recognized FIFA standards and according to the regulations of the competition.  Artificial turf was first used in international competition at the FIFA U-17 World Championship in Finland last year. Ten matches, including the final, were played on a “FIFA Recommended” synthetic surface. “This is not a revolution, it’s just part of the normal evolution of football,” Blatter told media.