Female footballers have dropped their legal battle against the use of artificial surfaces at this year's Women's World Cup, their lawyers have revealed.
A group of elite women's players had sued FIFA and the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA), arguing that it was discriminatory for women to play on artificial turf surfaces for the tournament, which takes place in Canada in from June 6 to July 5, and also that they were unsafe.
The men's World Cup is played on natural grass pitches.
FIFA and the CSA had denied the charges of discrimination and argued that the surfaces had passed their sanctioning standards and that the bidding process for hosting the tournament had made clear that artificial surfaces would be used, Stuff.co.nz reported.
Lawyer Hampton Dellinger accused FIFA and the CSA of delaying tactics and making threats of suspension against the players.
Dellinger said in a statement that in the face of such irresponsible actions by FIFA and CSA, the players have elected to end their legal fight, adding that the players are doing what FIFA and CSA have proven incapable of: putting the sport of soccer first.
United States national team striker Abby Wambach, one of those who had led the legal fight, said that she hoped the case would bring about change in the future.
