Lionel Messi‘s move to Inter Miami had a significant impact on the landscape of MLS, drawing global attention to U.S. soccer. The part of the league that had been causing difficulties was its pitch. The MLS clubs used artificial turf, which was concerning for players, while other leagues in the world preferred natural grass. Although, the prospect of Lionel Messi playing in the U.S. had led many teams to reconsider their decisions about the pitches. Meanwhile, a USMNT legend took to social media to rant about one such instance that took place due to artificial turf.
Herculez Gomez expressed concern about the injuries that players are sustaining due to astroturf in MLS. The former LA Galaxy star had always been outspoken about the importance of investing in pitches over sponsorships and branding in soccer. Despite his previous comments about the dangers of artificial turf, Gomez was furious when a 24-year-old Argentine forward for CF Monterrey suffered a serious injury on the ground during a Leagues Cup match.
What did Herculez Gomez have to say about the injury of the Argentine forward?
German Berterame fractured his left foot in a Leagues Cup match against Portland Timbers on August 4 and missed the Clasico Regio against Tigres. The Argentine striker played well in the match against the Timbers, but his stint was cut short by the fracture sustained on the artificial turf of Providence Park, and expected to be out of action for two to three months. Herculez Gomez shared the exact moment of the injury that occurred due to the soccer pitch on Twitter. The MLS legend reacted to the situation by saying, “German Berterame of MTY suffers a fracture in his ankle. Brandon Bye of tears his ACL vs Atlas. Owners would rather protect their wallets than their products. Ban Turf. Now.”
German Berterame of MTY suffers a fracture in his ankle.
Brandon Bye of #NERevs tears his ACL vs Atlas.
Owners would rather protect their wallets than their product.
Ban Turf. Now. pic.twitter.com/RU9a4MILxB
— herculez gomez (@herculezg) August 5, 2023
Many studies had shown that artificial turf required less maintenance than natural grass, which helped the clubs to save money on their operating costs. The main concern with artificial turf was its uneven surface and synthetic texture caused more injuries than any other ground, including ankle injuries and fractures.
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This was exactly why the USMNT legend was concerned about the use of Astro turfs in MLS and slammed the club owners into putting profits ahead of player safety. Even though many soccer legends expressed solicitude about the pitch issues throughout the years in MLS, Lionel Messi chose to play for Inter Miami despite the turf distress.
Artificial turf: A major concern of soccer icons like Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi touching down for Inter Miami had helped to develop the environment of soccer in the States. The significant sponsorship deals, merchandise sales, and match day revenue had all seen a breakthrough for the club economies after his arrival. Despite the positive developments, the subject of the debate remained the artificial turf in the grounds which forced the World Cup winner to play on the treacherous surface.
Many renowned soccer players like Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic had voiced their concerns about the use of artificial turf in MLS during their time in the league. Ibrahimovic remarked that he would only play on artificial turf in a life-or-death situation, due to the risk of injuries. Although there were plans to renovate many of the artificial turf pitches in the US after la Pulga’s arrival, this had not been confirmed yet. Regardless of the ground conditions, Lionel Messi continued to demonstrate his outstanding skills in the States, scoring seven goals in just four games.
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What did you feel about Herculez Gomez’s concern over the turf situation in the US? Comment below and let us know.
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