U.S. Women’s Soccer Team Cancels Game Because Of Poor Turf Conditions

by Ryan KappyDecember 7, 2015, 3:30 pmNews >

The U.S. women’s soccer team has been on a 10-game victory tour since winning the Women’s World Cup in playing for different cities across the U.S. But when the team got to Hawaii, they had to instantly cancel their Sunday exhibition game against Trinidad and Tobago because of poor turf conditions at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.

After the stadium’s surface was tested out during Saturday’s practice, U.S. Soccer put out a statement saying “after all possible options available were considered to get the field in a playable condition, the decision was made by U.S. Soccer to cancel the match.” In a posting on The Players’ Tribune, “There were sharp rocks ingrained all over the field. They were everywhere,” the U.S. players said in the post. “The artificial turf was actually pulling up out of the ground, and the turf itself was both low-grade and aging. This was a playing surface that looked like it hadn’t been replaced in years.”

The game cancellation came a day after midfielder Megan Rapinoe tore a ligament in her right knee during training, which will require surgery and a timetable for her return is not known. “Megan’s injury took place while playing on a subpar training field,” the U.S. players said in the posting. “The grass on the training pitch itself was in bad shape. All along the pitch, sewer plates and plastic coverings were laying on the sidelines.”

The 30-year-old Rapinoe, who currently plays for the Seattle Reign for the NWSL, has 113 appearances with the national team and 31 career goals for the Americans. “I want to thank my teammates and the staff for the amazing support I’ve received so far,” Rapinoe said in an issued statement. “I know I’ll be in the best of hands moving forward and I’ll be doing everything I can to get healthy as soon as possible. This is obviously a very difficult time, but I do feel super confident in my recovery as I’ve gone through this before and I know what the process will be like.”

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PHOTO: WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 27: US President Barack Obama holds a jersey given to him by the World Champion United States Women’s National Soccer Team, in the East Room of the White House October 27, 2015 in Washington, DC. President Obama hosted the event to honor the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Champions. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)