For quite some time now, English football has shamelessly barred any use of artificial turf, and stuck firmly to their ‘grass only’ rule. However all of that could change very soon, as after about 20 years the FA Cup will begin to allow artificial turf once more – all the way up to the semi-finals.
Make no mistake, the reasons why such turf was banned in the first place were substantial. Back in the 80s and early 90s, there was a lot of controversy surrounding the way that balls bounced on these turfs and how the game differed greatly when artificial turf was used. However all of that is a thing of the past now, and the current generation of artificial turf is really not that dissimilar from grass pitches – except for the fact that they never get muddy!
Premier League Teams Playing on Artificial Turf
Although for the most part it is going to be the lower division teams and non-league football teams that use these turfs, because of the fact that the FA Cup is allowing it – Premier League teams could very well find themselves playing away from home on such pitches.
Whether or not that has any bearing on the odds of such matches is something that you’ll have to check on Unibet closer to the time. For now, the news is still sinking in and its implications are still being looked at closely by bookmakers and experts alike.
It is safe to say that it is unlikely that the Premier League or other higher divisions will start to adopt artificial pitches anytime soon. In fact, at the highest level there is still an association between football and the fact that it is played on proper grass fields. Whether or not that changes in the future is anyone’s guess – but for now allowing lower teams to play on artificial turf fields is definitely a positive step.
Making Football More Accessible
A big part of the reason why these pitches have now been deemed acceptable is due to the fact that it removes a part of the ever-widening divide between the leagues. Where in the past a lower division team with an artificial turf on their home ground would have to play at a third-party stadium for their home games in the FA Cup and lose their home ground advantage by doing so – now that will no longer be the case.
Considering pitches with artificial turfs can be part of community facilities that benefit an entire area as opposed to just a single football club, this move should allow it to be much more accessible. In short, the ‘snobbery’ surrounding ‘all grass’ fields should no longer be a hindrance.
Perhaps some day the World Cup finals will be played on similar artificial turfs. Perhaps all the Premier League teams will embrace the changing times too. It is impossible to tell whether or not any of that will take place, but at least now it doesn’t look quite as impossible as it once did.
