Canadian soccer head dismisses claim female players are being discriminated against

FILE - In this Jan. 27, 2012, file photo, United States' Kelly O'Hara (5) fights for control of the ball with Costa Rica's Daniela Cruz (8) during the first half of CONCACAF women's Olympic qualifying soccer game action at B.C. Place in Vancouver, British Columbia. The law firm that represents soccer players who object to an artificial turf surface at the Women’s World Cup says a FIFA-commissioned survey of players shows that 77 percent feel major tournaments should be played on natural grass. But that wasn’t enough to sway organizers to let the women play on grass.(AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jonathan Hayward, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Jan. 7, 2013, file photo, USA's Abby Wambach speaks at a press conference during the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2013 held at the Kongresshaus in Zurich, Switzerland. The law firm that represents soccer players who object to an artificial turf surface at the Women’s World Cup says a FIFA-commissioned survey of players shows that 77 percent feel major tournaments should be played on natural grass. But that wasn’t enough to sway organizers to let the women play on grass. Wambach, a group of teammates and a number of international players are protesting the artificial surface, claiming that forcing the women to play on turf amounts to gender discrimination. (AP Photo/Keystone/Walter Bieri, File) (The Associated Press)

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The president of the Canadian Soccer Association says it's misinformation and hyperbole to claim female players are being discriminated against because of plans to use artificial turf next year in the FIFA Women's World Cup.

Addressing the Vancouver Board of Trade on Thursday, Victor Montagliani said: "I will say that is the biggest form of misinformation I have ever heard in my life."

Montagliani said FIFA, soccer's world governing body, will make the final decision on what turf will be used during the tournament to be played in six Canadian cities.

BC Place Stadium in Vancouver will be the site of nine matches, including the final. Other games will be held in Moncton, New Brunswick; Montreal; Ottawa, Ontario; Winnipeg, Manitoba; and Edmonton, Alberta.

A group of 40 players have threatened a lawsuit over the plan to use artificial turf. They argue female athletes are being discriminated against because the men's World Cup is played on natural grass.