With Athletico players, athletes come together at the end of synthetics in Brazil

“Worrying to see the direction that Brazilian football is taking. It is absurd to have to discuss synthetic lawn in our fields,” they say, in a text entitled “Football is natural, not synthetic!”. “Objectively, with the size and representativeness that our football has, it should not even be an option.”

Given the applicant argument that the artificial fields are better than the natural laws of poor quality seen in the Brazilian Championship, in their all their divisions, the players responded: “The solution to a bad lawn is to make a good lawn, simple like that “.

They preferred not to point in the manifesto the risk of injuries – studies on the subject are still inconsistent. But physical problems in other parts of the world have generated prohibitions, and FIFA (International Football Federation), although allowing the synthetic field, has warned the United States, the main headquarters of the next World Cup, that the tournament will have only natural grass.

“In the most respected leagues in the world, players are heard and investments are made to ensure the quality of the lawn in the stadiums. It is about offering quality for those who play and watch,” says the text of the athletes, also shared by Cássio, Lucas Moura, Gerson and Alan Patrick.

“If Brazil definitely wants to be inserted as a protagonist in the world football market, the first measure should be demanding quality of the floor that athletes play and train. Professional football is not played in synthetic lawn,” concludes the manifesto, replicated in the profiles of the sportsmen on social networks.

The movement occurs before the technical council of the Brazilian Championship, which will define details of this year’s rules. Three of the Series A clubs intend to send their games in synthetic fields. Already Palmeiras (Allianz Parque) and Botafogo (Engenhão). Atletico Mineiro is completing the installation of the artificial floor in the MRV arena.

Reopened, the Pacaembu Stadium, in São Paulo, also has synthetic grass. The Arena has been used by Portuguesa in the Paulista Championship. And the expectation is that it will be used by São Paulo and Santos in matches of the national competition, whose beginning is scheduled for March 29.

Athletic players and former players participate in a campaign

Amid the campaign against synthetic lawns, players from Athleticowho pioneered the implementation of artificial grass in Serie A, manifested themselves. Hurricane, it is worth remembering, will play Series B in 2025.

The striker Mastianiwho recently underwent knee surgery, and his wife supported. The player just enjoyed Neymar’s publication on the net, while his wife did a story criticizing the lawn on Instagram.

Already defender Kaique Rocha, now at Internacional, and defender Leo Godoy, loaned to Santos by Athletico, also shared the campaign image on their social networks.

Recently, it is worth remembering, FIFA has granted a new quality certificate to the Ligga Arena lawn by February 6, 2026. The club, so far, has not spoken out about the criticism of Brazilian athletes.