http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/8607191.stm

 

The Scottish Premier League says it is "open minded" about teams playing on artificial pitches in the future.

 

Dunfermline Athletic's use of such a surface in 2003 was deemed a failure.

 

But Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final between CSKA Moscow and Inter Milan was played on the latest, "fourth-generation" artificial surface.

 

And SPL secretary Ian Blair said: "We are open to it as a possibility, but we would require a demonstration that it was going to be effective."

 

With several SPL pitches in poor condition this season, and a record number of call-offs, clubs will spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on improving their surfaces this summer.

 

If you can play football then this surface is ideal

 

But Blair says that more experiments need to be carried out to see if the new surfaces are the answer to Scotland's pitch problem.

 

"It's down to the clubs to propose it," he told BBC Scotland. "We as a league are not promoting artificial surfaces, but there is a facility within our rules for a club to come forward and, subject to various criteria being met, it's certainly possible that it would be approved."

 

In 2003, Dunfermline were given the green light to install an artificial surface for use in the SPL.

 

After two seasons, however, that pitch was ripped up after a number of problems and Blair says that memories of the experiment have turned the majority of people in the game in Scotland against the use of a plastic pitches.

 

"I think we are still chastened of the experience of the Premier League with an artificial pitch," he said.

 

"However, if it can be proven that the new surfaces are much better then that would help with the consideration."

 

League of Ireland Premier Division side Dundalk have installed the same surface as the one used in Moscow at a cost of 300,000 euros (£263,000).

 

Next season, they will play in the Europa League and their chief executive, Colm Crossan, says that the advantages of laying this surface far outweighs the disadvantages.

 

"If you take a realistic or objective look, while there may be some disadvantages, the advantages enormously outweigh these and, from that point of view, it's a no brainer," he said.

 

"If you take the elite players, they are playing on a proven surface. They are playing on a true surface. They are not playing on a so-called 'cabbage patch' surface.

 

"Crucially, though, it is helping young players develop their footballing skills at an age that is vital for them to do that.

 

"But this pitch also helps kids who will never be able to play at elite level. Because the surface is available all year round, they can come in along with their friends and have a kick about on the same pitch as their heroes without the fear of the surface deteriorating."

 

Previous artificial pitches have brought with them problems with injuries, but Crossan insists that they have not had any problems that can be put down to the new surface.

 

"There is no evidence of any single injury that can be put down to the pitch," he said.

 

"There is no specific evidence and there is no anecdotal evidence of that. It would appear to be slightly harder on some muscles, some of the players will tell you.

 

"But, c'est la vie, its nothing that a fit athlete won't be able to condition himself for.

 

"Also, if you are playing on a mud bath of a pitch then that will also test the physical attributes for a player. So, in short, the answer is no, there are no significant issues in that area."

 

That appears to be backed up by former Ayr United, Clyde, Morton and Stirling Albion forward Alex Williams, who this year moved from Dundalk to rivals St Patrick's Athletic.

 

"It's probably the best artificial surface I have ever played on," said the 27-year-old.

 

"You can pass the ball about well and, although some players do moan about it, I have no problem with it.

 

"If you can play football then this surface is ideal."

 

Since we have numerous problems year on year with the cold, rain, snow, lack of light and insect problems it may well be a financial benefit. Dunfermline also benefited a decent bit by letting people play on the pitch during the week.

If it's anything like the surface down at Toryglen then it'd be good. The indoor one is in better condition so I'd still have it covered when not in use.

It's a no brainer, either summer football or artificial pitches. The way we are playing right now is just plain wrong.

If the stories about Dunfermlines pitch were true then the Astroturf salesman saw them coming.

Sounded as if it was a step down from the standard 'powerleague' or 'goals' pitch and should therefore not be used as an example. May as well use QPRs 1980s effort.

 

Hamilton Accies seemed to have a decent one and if i was their directors I would be well pissed off if the SPL suddenly did a U-turn after forcing them to dig up their perfectly good pitch (losing vital revenue in the process) and forking out for something along the lines of their Lanarkshire rivals.

 

Just another example of the muppets who run out game. NO NO NO LA LA NOT LISTENING....oh wait

I'm against Plastic Pitches.

 

Ask any player who plays on grass regularly and has to play on CSKA Moscow's pitch what they think of it. They have problems stopping when they usually would and turning as quickly as they usually would.  All of that points towards joint injuries if you're using these pitches on a regular basis as there is no "give" in them, as you'd get with grass.

 

Whether it's fourth generation "grasstroturf" or whatever, it doesn't and never will react like grass and as such, you will get more injuries to players.  As someone who hasn't been able to play football for 5 years (partly) because of fairly infrequent playing on "grasstroturf" I'd hate to see pros have to play on this stuff every week.  It will finish the careers of many before their time should be up.

 

And let's not kid on it would improve the standard of football. Our players look shit scared when they're faced with the task of controlling a bouncing ball on a beautifully manicured Pittodrie on the first day of the season, and as for their passing on the same surface... changing the youth coaching rather than the surface would improve that part of the game.

i'm for it

 

i don't know about the standard of these new pitches but surely they must be able to come up with a suitable alternative? the standard of the pitches in the spl are a disgrace and no-one outside the OF have the money to keep their pitches in a good state.

i played basketball competitivley for years and as a result my knees and ankles took a bit of a battering. i play 7's weekly and suffer no ill effects as a result of running around on fake grass.

 

do the Americans not use it in some of the American football stadiums?

I'm against Plastic Pitches.

 

Ask any player who plays on grass regularly and has to play on CSKA Moscow's pitch what they think of it. They have problems stopping when they usually would and turning as quickly as they usually would.  All of that points towards joint injuries if you're using these pitches on a regular basis as there is no "give" in them, as you'd get with grass.

 

Whether it's fourth generation "grasstroturf" or whatever, it doesn't and never will react like grass and as such, you will get more injuries to players.  As someone who hasn't been able to play football for 5 years (partly) because of fairly infrequent playing on "grasstroturf" I'd hate to see pros have to play on this stuff every week.  It will finish the careers of many before their time should be up.

 

And let's not kid on it would improve the standard of football. Our players look shit scared when they're faced with the task of controlling a bouncing ball on a beautifully manicured Pittodrie on the first day of the season, and as for their passing on the same surface... changing the youth coaching rather than the surface would improve that part of the game.

Amen Brother!

The other problem with astro pitches which would be brutally exposed in Aberdeen is when it pisses down the ball just fires about everywhere at 100mph.

Football should be played on grass.

Pity neither are seen at Pittodrie very often.