Players FIFPro Tournament cooperate in field study

Saturday 28 January 2012

During the Torneo FIFPro América, which took place last weekend in Santiago de Chile, the players participated in a large-scale FIFA/FIFPro study on the Players Perception of Playing Surfaces.

Over these last few years there has been a close cooperation between FIFPro and FIFA to improve the quality of the playing surface. FIFPro has always stressed that pros deserve to play on good playing surfaces where they can show their good qualities in an optimal way. 1250 Players throughout the world are now being approached to express their opinion, in a survey compiled together with Loughborough University, on all kinds of aspects concerning the various types of playing surfaces. 

During the FIFPro Tournament América for out-of-contract players a total of 86 players participated in the survey. Players from Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Peru appeared to be highly motivated to express their opinions and insights on one of the things that have a huge impact on their performances: the pitch.

Tijs Tummers, FIFPro’s Technical Committee secretary was also present in Chile: ‘This is not about being in favour or against artificial turf, although this issue is well reflected in some questions. It is about getting to know in detail what players consider to be an ideal pitch. There are also huge differences between natural grass pitches. What do players see as their preferred pitches? The idea was also that artificial pitches should approach natural grass pitches as much as possible. But which type of natural grass, with which characteristics? This study should provide more clarity on this.’

In Zurich FIFA’s Playing Surfaces Project Manager Stuart Larman showed himself delighted with the participation of the players during the Torneo FIFPro América.

Larman: ‘The survey is very important as we seek to improve the playing surface quality for players throughout the world, whether they play on natural grass or football turf. The feedback that we receive will model our future research and recommendations in pitch preparation. The wide range of responses at the Torneo FIFPro América will provide us with a unique insight of what players in South America regard as a good and bad playing surface.’

‘FIFA thanks FIFPro and the Chilean players union Sifup for their great support and we hope that other FIFPro members in other parts of the world will show the same commitment.’