O Palm treesnext to Athletico-PR, Atlético-MG, Botafogo e Chapecoenseissued an official statement jointly in defense of the synthetic turf, used by these clubs in their respective stadiums, in response to the proposal sent by Flamengo to the CBF asking for standardization and the end of the use of synthetic flooring by 2027.
It is worth highlighting that Leila Pereira, president of Palmeiras, and Luiz Eduardo Baptista, BAP, representative of Flamengo, even exchanged public barbs on the subject after the release of this document.
According to the statement, the technology used follows “best international practices”, in addition to saying that Flamengo’s stance follows a “simplified, unfair and technically mistaken narrative“. Also according to these clubs, the high-performance synthetic turf “surpasses” natural fields in poor condition.
The clubs’ official note also states that “There is no conclusive scientific study that proves an increase in injuries caused by modern synthetic lawns”, one of the arguments most used by those who defend the use of only the natural field in Brazilian football.
Finally, the note points out that the issue of lawn quality is “necessary”, but it must be done with “responsibility” and not with “narratives that distort reality”.
In the document sent to the CBF, Flamengo claims that no country that has already won the World Cup allows the use of “plastic grass“.
Still on this topic, Rubro-Negro highlights that several players have already demonstrated their opposition to synthetic turf. This year, Neymar and other important names in Brazilian football started a movement against this type of grass in the Brazilian football elite.
The Rio club also cites “several studies that clearly show that this type of surface is harmful to health, increasing the number of injuries and causing other problems due to contact with plastic”.
Thinking about “avoiding immediate losses”, Flamengo suggests the transition from the artificial pitch to the natural one by the end of 2027, for teams in Series A, and by the end of 2028, for teams in Series B. During this transition period, the club asks for a minimum standard from teams that use the synthetic one.
Finally, the Rio club reaffirms the need to standardize the quality of natural lawns, following standards used by FIFA and Uefa, and proposing technical standards to verify their quality. Currently, there is no regulation regarding Brazilian football pitches (natural or synthetic).
See below the official note from clubs that use synthetic pitches:
In light of recent public statements about the use of synthetic pitches in Brazilian football, Athletico Paranaense, Atlético, Botafogo, Chapecoense and Palmeiras reaffirm their position in defense of this technology, adopted in a responsible, regulated manner and in line with best international practices.
Firstly, it is essential to recognize that there is no standardization of lawns in Brazil. Ignoring this fact and directing criticism exclusively at synthetic lawns reduces a complex debate to a simplified, unfair and technically mistaken narrative.
We also reiterate that a high-performance synthetic pitch surpasses, in several aspects, the natural pitches in poor condition present in a significant part of the country’s stadiums.
It is equally important to clarify that there is no conclusive scientific study that proves an increase in injuries caused by modern synthetic lawns.
The topic of lawn quality is legitimate, healthy and necessary. However, it must be conducted with responsibility, objective data and technical knowledge, and not with narratives that distort reality, misinform the public and disregard the complexity of the subject.
Athletico Paranaense – Atlético – Botafogo – Chapecoense – Palmeiras
