Women are getting tough on turf

Some of the world's top women football players say FIFA's proposal to play the 2015 Women's World Cup finals in Canada on artificial turf instead of grass is discriminatory and violates human rights.

Top Players in several countries, including the USA, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, Germany, New Zealand and Costa Rica, have applied legal advice for FIFA to change their decision.

The World Cup finals for men and women, contested every four years, have always been played on natural grass. Players and coaches believe there is a higher risk of injury on artificial turf and that it causes more wear and tear on bodies of athletes' . In the letter to FIFA, the players, who include Abby Wambach of the United States and Germany's Nadine Angerer - FIFA players of the year for 2012 and 2013 respectively - said they can suggest "several affordable ways" to host the tournament on grass.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup for men in Brazil was played on grass and there are no plans to shift future mens tournaments to artificial turf. Canada will host the Women's World Cup in June and July 2015 in six cities - Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal and Moncton.