RIO DE JANEIRO.- The players’ union NFL declared this Friday concern about the poor condition of the stadium grass Maracanain Rio de Janeirowhere the Baltimore Ravens and the Dallas Cowboys They will face each other on Sunday.
Brazil will receive an NFL regular season game for the third consecutive year, within the framework of the international expansion strategy of the American football league.
It will be the first in Rio after Sao Paulo will host the previous commitments, but the iconic Maracaná field has been the target of criticism in the previous days, affected by heavy rains.
Field conditions are “more of a playability and performance issue than a significant injury risk,” said the executive director of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA). JC Tretter.
In a statement, Tretter reported that experts from the NFLPA and the league itself determined that the field required a “reinforcement suture,” a procedure in which synthetic fibers are used to maintain natural grass. This improves traction and stability for players.
“Our experts will remain vigilant,” Tretter said.
He considered that problems with the grass could detract from Sunday’s show and questioned whether international meetings should be held without adequate conditions.
“Our players are exceptional at what they do and I am confident they will put on a great game in Rio this week… Players can overcome many obstacles, but they shouldn’t also have to deal with the state of the field,” Tretter said.
“The NFL has made it clear that it wants to continue expanding the sport internationally. However, growth alone cannot be the goal. The goal must be to grow while maintaining the standards that our players deserve,” he added.
Ravens and Cowboys completed their first practice sessions on Friday afternoon in Rio, at the facilities of the local soccer clubs. Botafogo and Flamengorespectively.
Carelessness on the benches
Members of both teams have downplayed the controversy surrounding the Maracaná.
“The NFL does a great job sending their specialists to inspect the fields. I can’t worry about that,” the Ravens quarterback said earlier this week. Lamar Jackson.
“We’ve played on bad fields a lot of times, so I don’t think much more about it,” added Jackson, twice Most Valuable Player (MVP).
“I don’t have any worries,” said the Cowboys coach, Brian Schottenheimer. “I am confident” that “we will have a field in adequate condition.”
