Controversy Surrounding Lionel Messi Playing on Artificial Turf in MLS

Will Lionel Messi feature in MLS matches played on artificial turf? The US league commissioner expects clubs to lay temporary natural grass pitches.

Messi’s club Inter Miami have two games scheduled to be played in stadiums with artificial pitches in the next few weeks – at Atlanta United and FC Charlotte. There is now speculation in the USA as to whether Messi will appear in these games or whether he will refuse to play on this surface. Artificial turf is said to put particular strain on the players’ joints and entail an increased risk of injury.

Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber told The Athletic: “Whether or not he will play on artificial turf depends on the player and coach Tata Martino. There are no commitments one way or the other.”

However, Garber said he “expects” that teams with artificial grass surfaces will attempt to install temporary natural grass surfaces on top of the artificial grass surface. According to The Athletic, however, the clubs are not planning to do this.

“It will be every club’s decision when they play in stadiums that don’t have natural grass,” said Garber. “In many international friendlies we managed to bring natural grass into the stadiums. But we’ve never done that for a normal game of the season.”

Lionel Messi: controversy over matches played on artificial grass in MLS

Messi himself has not yet commented on the subject. But there are reports, citing MLS insiders, that the Argentine doesn’t want to play on artificial turf.

There are a total of six clubs in MLS that have installed artificial turf in their stadiums. FC Charlotte have now announced that they are not planning any changes to the pitch for the game against Messi’s Miami on October 21.

“All of our Major League Soccer games are played on artificial turf,” a club spokesman told the Charlotte Observer. Last year, however, the club switched to artificial turf for a friendly against Chelsea and two games for the US national team at the Gold Cup.

Atlanta United, where Messi will play with Miami on September 16, also has no intention of switching to a natural grass pitch. That has never happened at the six-year-old Mercedes-Benz Stadium anyway.

2023-07-28 10:40:54
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