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Wambach, players go to court over World Cup turf

By WTOP Staff

JOSEPH WHITE
AP Sports Writer

The push to get Canada to stage the Women’s World Cup on grass instead of artificial turf is now a legal matter, with American star Abby Wambach and a group of players “fully prepared to go forward zealously and aggressively in court” to force a change, their lawyer said on Thursday.

The players, who have no plans to boycott next year’s tournament, allege gender discrimination because the men’s World Cup is always staged on grass. A lawsuit was filed Wednesday at the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, naming FIFA and the Canadian Soccer Association as defendants.

Attorney Hampton Dellinger said real grass could be installed at the six World Cup stadiums for $2 million to $3 million. Seeking an expedited hearing next month so that a ruling can be issued in time for the turf to be changed, Dellinger said that the tribunal on Thursday gave FIFA and CSA until next Thursday to respond to the filing.

“It is a drop in the bucket in terms of FIFA’s coffers,” Dellinger said. “Canada is one of the richest nations on earth.”

The players say the game is inherently different on turf. The ball bounces differently, there’s a greater risk of injury and the recovery period is longer — a particular concern in a tournament in which many games are compressed into a tight schedule.

“It totally changes the game,” said Germany’s Nadine Angerer, FIFA’s reigning world player of the year. “It’s not fair why our game should be changed.”

Wambach, Angerer, American forward Alex Morgan, Brazil’s Fabiana Da Silva Simoes and Spain’s Veronica Boquete are among the players bringing the suit. They have been complaining about the issue for years — since Canada’s proposal to play on artificial turf was accepted — and they sent a letter to FIFA and the CSA in July, saying they were prepared to take the legal action.

Since then, there has been growing support for the women on social media, with celebrities including actor Tom Hanks and NBA star Kobe Bryant joining the cause. Tim Howard, the goalkeeper for the U.S. men’s team, also voiced his support on Twitter.

“We have to stand up and put our foot down and say, ‘You know what? This isn’t good enough. This isn’t right and we deserve to be treated equally as the men,'” Wambach, the sport’s all-time goal-scoring leader, told The Associated Press last month.

On Tuesday, a FIFA official visiting Canada ahead of the tournament next year said there were no plans to reconsider using artificial turf.

“We play on artificial turf and there’s no Plan B,” said Tatjana Haenni, FIFA’s head of women’s competitions.

FIFA, which is based in Zurich, issued a brief statement of Thursday.

“While we are aware of the recent media reports, at the time of writing we have not been officially contacted on the matter, and therefore we are not in a position to comment,” the governing body said.

The women have lost some leverage by declaring they have no plans to boycott the World Cup. Angerer and Boquete reiterated that stance on Thursday.

“Right now, we focus on the lawsuit,” Boquete said. “And we expect that FIFA and the Canadian federation will listen to us and try to find a solution. Right now we didn’t think about more than that.”

Former Canada standout Carrie Serwetnyk, the first woman inducted into her country’s Soccer Hall of Fame, compared playing on artificial turf to running on a “cinder track” and said she expects more from her country.

“Women would play on a field of glass and nails for the World Cup, they’re so dedicated and mentally tough, and that’s the problem,” Serwetnyk said. “We’ll do that because they love the game. And the CSA and FIFA are getting away with putting the players on the artificial turf, and they know they can’t do that with the men. Men would boycott, and this would not happen. So the women are put in an unfortunate position, where of course they’re going to show up and play, and that’s not the kind of tournament we want to have.”

FIFA rules stipulate that matches can be played on artificial turf if special dispensation is granted, as happened in Canada’s case. Canada’s bid for the event specified that the final match be held at Vancouver’s BC Place, which has artificial turf. FIFA regulations state that all matches in a tournament must be played on the same kind of surface.

FIFA has appointed an independent examiner to make sure the turf at the six venues meets its strict guidelines for top-tier tournaments. The consultant is traveling with a FIFA delegation currently inspecting the sites.

Many players believe that FIFA could cover the six fields with sod. The real stuff was rolled onto the artificial surface at Michigan’s Big House this summer for a match between Manchester United and Real Madrid.

Serwetnyk said Canada’s current players are in a bind when it comes to expressing their feelings on the matter.

“The CSA is their boss, and it’s easier for players from other countries to express feelings. … It poses a risk for the players, and they just want to focus on making the team,” Serwetnyk said.

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AP Sports Writer Anne M. Peterson contributed to this report.

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Follow Joseph White on Twitter: http://twitter.com/JGWhiteAP

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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