NFL Players Renew Push for Grass Fields After World Cup Success

Dozens of players launch a social media campaign backing their union's call for permanent natural turf

Dozens of NFL players are renewing their push for permanent grass playing surfaces league-wide after natural turf was used successfully for World Cup matches at 11 NFL stadiums this summer, according to ESPN.

The players have started a social media campaign to support a call from their union for more permanent grass fields, BBC Sport reported. The effort follows the World Cup's run through NFL venues, which players are citing as evidence that grass can work at stadiums typically fitted with artificial turf.

The league has faced years of criticism from players over surface-related injuries, and the NFL Players Association has repeatedly pressed teams to convert to grass. The World Cup's use of grass fields at NFL stadiums this summer has given the players fresh ammunition for that argument, with the renewed campaign aiming to keep pressure on team owners and the league ahead of future scheduling and stadium decisions.

— Compiled from reporting by BBC Sport and ESPN.