NFL Players Association executive director J.C. Tretter has raised concerns about the playing surface at Maracana Stadium in Brazil.
Tretter released a lengthy statement on Friday, two days before the Dallas Cowboys (1-1) and Baltimore Ravens (1-1) will play the NFL’s first game in Rio de Janeiro.
“Based on our experts’ assessment, the field needed better traction and stability,” Tretter said. “They recommended reinforced stitching to help the surface hold together and brought in equipment to reinforce as much of the field as possible before the game. Our experts will remain engaged and continue evaluating conditions through kickoff.”
The region has been subject to record rainfall over the past six weeks.
“The concern heading into this week was that the field would be loose, patchy, and lead to excessive slipping,” Tretter said. “Those conditions are generally more of a playability and performance issue than a significant injury concern. But safety isn’t the only standard. Players should be able to perform at the level they expect of themselves and that fans expect from them. A thin, slick field may not present the same risks as a surface with too much traction, but it still affects performance and the quality of the game.”
The NFL has played a game at Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo over the past two seasons.
“The health and safety of NFL players is a shared priority, and the NFL works collaboratively year-round with the union to ensure high-quality fields, including for international games,” NFL chief spokesman Brian McCarthy wrote in a statement to USA Today.
“NFL and union experts have worked hand-in-hand in Rio and are confident the field will be ready for play and in compliance.”
–Field Level Media
