Grass pitches are taking criticism at the Euros, but are there other natural alternatives?

Grass pitches consume a lot of water and frequently need to be replaced, but are there better alternatives to natural turf? When Queens Park Rangers installed a synthetic pitch at their Loftus Road ground in 1981, it caused quite a stir. The new pitch, made of a concrete base with a nylon carpet-like fabric layer and sand spread over the top, made the ball move faster and bounce further than usual. Some people said QPR was now 'fantastic on plastic' as the ball zipped between players. However, not everyone was convinced. The hard surface left players with horrible cuts and grazes, and the pitch was later removed after England's Football Association banned plastic pitches. In the US, NFL players have also pushed for changing synthetic field surfaces to prevent injuries. However, natural pitches can also be problematic. They need to be replaced frequently and can turn into muddy traps for the players. Pundits covering matches have criticized the grass pitch in Frankfurt's Waldstadion, calling it 'terrible' and saying that slipping and sliding on cut-up turf can impact performance. Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said the turf was a 'disaster' and that players 'risked serious injury'. Today, most top-tier football pitches are a hybrid, essentially a synthetic mat through which real grass can grow. These pitches feel like natural grass, the ball bounces consistently, and they are softer underfoot. They can be resown with new grass each year and are much better at draining. They can also be used for other events like concerts. However, these pitches are only affordable to the highest-earning professional sides. For ordinary community pitches, finding a hard-wearing, affordable surface is a challenge. Modern 'third generation' (or 3G) artificial pitches are made with a shock-absorbing base layer of rubber, covered in a matting of artificial grass. This is then coated with a layer of sand and an 'infill' layer of small rubber pellets called crumbs. These rubber crumbs are typically made from recycled car tires. They can get everywhere, even in your shoes and gym bag. The rubber also has a habit of finding its way into unwanted places. A standard football pitch is covered with 120 tonnes of rubber crumb. Between 1. 5 and five tonnes of rubber crumb is lost to the environment from a full-size pitch every year. This means a lot of rubber ends up in the sea. Artificial grass can also degrade over time into microplastics. These microplastics can end up in watercourses. Some groundstaff might have previously dumped plastic into waterways when clearing pitches of snow. Countries like Norway now have rules to stop this. In 2023, the EU banned rubber crumb for 3G pitches. From October 2031, new rules will make it harder to use rubber crumb. Organic alternatives like cork, coconut shell, and bark are being explored. One club in the Netherlands tested a pitch with artificial turf and olive pits, and the players liked it. Cork crumb is made from the bark of cork trees, a process that does not kill the tree. Cork trees can be harvested repeatedly during their long lifespans. Cork also has climate benefits, as cork trees store carbon during their long life. However, cork may not suit all pitches. In wet climates, it can get washed away and needs to be replaced more often. Coconut husk has been used, but it does not cushion as well as cork or rubber. Limiting the environmental impact of synthetic pitches will have another benefit. A natural field large enough for two pitches will save a lot of carbon. But synthetic pitches are popular. With climate change resulting in rising temperatures and increased flooding, they are more practical. One club can spend a lot of money each week and rent it out to other teams. This is more than a grass pitch can support. A soil pitch with no drainage might only support a few hours of play each week. With drainage, it might support more hours, but not as much as a synthetic pitch. So what can be done about the synthetic pitches we already have? Barriers around the pitches and capture devices in drains can help. Natural turf will still be scrutinized if it falls below standard. Uefa said they would look into it, but there is no quick fix. For now, players might have to get used to playing on natural but potentially slippery surfaces.