Since Neymar returned to Santos, a heated debate has emerged regarding the use of synthetic turf in Brazilian stadiums. Amid this ongoing discussion, Palmeiras president Leila Pereira responded to Neymar and other players critical of the situation with a bold retirement remark.
The debate between natural grass and synthetic turf has persisted for several years. While most players prefer natural grass, some clubs opt for synthetic surfaces due to easier maintenance and perceived durability.
Neymar has been vocal in his opposition to synthetic turf. The Santos legend joined Brazilian league stars like Memphis Depay, Thiago Silva, Coutinho, and Bruno Henrique in signing a manifesto last month, shared on his Instagram account, denouncing the growing trend of synthetic pitches in Brazilian soccer.
“The direction Brazilian soccer is taking is worrying. It’s absurd that we have to talk about synthetic turf on our pitches. Objectively, with the size and representativeness of our soccer, that shouldn’t even be an option,” the statement read, expressing concerns about the use of artificial surfaces.
Palmeiras president takes jab at Neymar and players
The synthetic turf debate was one of the key topics discussed at the CBF Technical Council meeting held Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro. After the meeting, Palmeiras president Leila Pereira, whose club’s home stadium Allianz Parque has a synthetic pitch, fired back at Neymar and other critics.
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“Usually, the players who complain are older; I even understand that they want to extend their professional careers, so they believe this could shorten their time as athletes. But generally, these are players who should have already stopped playing soccer instead of complaining about the pitch,” Pereira told Globo Esporte.
Pereira doubled down on her stance, emphasizing the lack of scientific evidence against synthetic turf: “Considering that the reality in Brazil is different, if European pitches are so good, great — stay there, don’t come here. I’m referring to the players who signed that manifesto, which has absolutely no scientific evidence proving that synthetic turf is harmful to an athlete’s career.”
The Palmeiras president recently made headlines after suggesting that Brazilian teams could leave CONMEBOL and join CONCACAF, accusing the South American governing body of negligence. The turf debate continues to divide opinions, with both sides standing firm in their views.
