Alex Morgan on turf issue: FIFA doesn’t see us as equals to the men

United States women’s national team forward Alex Morgan discussed why female soccer players shouldn’t have to play on artificial turf.

Get breaking news and SI’s biggest stories instantly. Download the new Sports Illustrated app (iOS or Android) and personalize your experience by following your favorite teams and SI writers.

United States women’s national team forward Alex Morgan discussed why female soccer players shouldn’t have to play on artificial turf in a recent Q&A with Health’s Amy Spencer.

Morgan and her USWNT teammates played on turf last summer at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada, which the U.S. won.

“It’s all about gender equity,” Morgan said. “It’s not just about the playing surfaces or the different treatment of women versus men or the pay. The issue of us having to play on artificial turf for the World Cup? That’s just proof to us that FIFA doesn't see us as equals to the men.” 

• Alex Morgan: Zika virus ‘kind of scary’

In March, five members of the U.S. women’s national team filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission accusing U.S. Soccer of wage discrimination.

“I feel like the best teams in the world deserve the best playing surfaces, and they deserve the fair pay for fair play,” Morgan continued. “We had the most viewership on TV of any U.S. soccer team in history—more than any U.S. men’s game—so that just tells you something.”

Morgan, who is also a member of the NWSL’s Orlando Pride, will compete for her second Olympic gold medal this summer in Rio.