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FIFA says World Cup will be played on ryegrass
18 Nov, 2009CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA — Goodbye African kikuyugrass pitches, hello European ryegrass pitches.
That's what's going to happen next year when the World Cup is played in South Africa. FIFA, the world governing body of soccer, told stadium authorities in that nation to get rid of the kikuyugrass because it's not green enough and replace it with ryegrass, according to an article in the United Kingdom newspaper, Guardian Unlimited.
The decision is not being received very well in Cape Town and especially by the grass contractor that has been preparing two pitches of kikuyu for Cape Town's stadium, where one of the World Cup semi-final matches is to be played. Sports fields in South Africa typically feature kikuyu grass overseeded with ryegrass.
In making the decision to use ryegrass, FIFA is following recommendations from the Sports Turf Research Institute in Bingley, West Yorkshire, England, which noted that the tournament will be played June and July at the height South Africa's winter, which is typically wet. Kikuyu loses its dark green color and turns yellow in winter
To read the full article, and the reactions of some South Africans who view the decision as an insult, click here.