The Canadian Soccer Association is accusing a group of top women’s players of waiting “until what is effectively the 11th hour” to complain that games during next year’s Women’s World Cup will be played on artificial turf, and accuses lawyers for the players of misrepresenting how many players are upset about the turf controversy. “The use of high quality turf is integral to soccer in Canada and the CSA’s bid on behalf of Canada to host the competition was always premised on the use of turf,” the CSA wrote in a filing with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. “The (women players) have been aware of this for at least a year and a half, and probably for three years, since Canada was awarded the right to hold the competition in 2011.” Last Thursday, the players filed a complaint with the tribunal alleging they are victims of gender discrimination because male players in the men’s World Cup only play that tournament on grass. Playing on artificial turf leads to injury more frequently than on grass, the women complainants charge. The complainants include Abby Wambach of the U.S. and Germanys Nadine Angerer, FIFA players of the year for 2012 and 2013, respectively. The players who filed the complaint charge FIFA is discriminating against women by having the tournament played on artificial turf since the 2014 FIFA World Cup for men in Brazil was played on grass. Some professional football leagues, including Major League Soccer, and some FIFA World Cup matches, are played on artificial turf. The women asked for the tribunal to fast-track their filed complaint, since the World Cup begins in eight months. But the CSA says that those players did not complain to FIFA and failed to file their complaint to the tribunal “in a timely way.” “On this basis, not only should the demand for an expedited hearing be rejected, but the CSA will be applying to dismiss the complaint in its entirety for being out of time,” the CSA says in its filing. On March 21, 2013, over 18 months before the players filed their complaint, the match schedule for the Women’s World Cup was announced indicating the stadiums to be used. “That very day, Abby Wambach, one of the players listed in the complaint and a major international soccer star, began tweeting about her opposition to the matches being played on turf,” the CSA wrote. “To the CSA’s knowledge, no one filed any claim of discrimination in relation to the competition until this complaint was filed.” The CSA’s filing late Thursday amounts to literally the first public statements the organization has made about the controversy. “The assertion that turf fields are ‘second class’ is highly contentious,” the CSA wrote. “The applicants cannot seriously contend that the CSA’s decision to bid on the competition, proposing to use Canada’s best available facilities, constitutes discrimination.” The CSA said the complaint was filed as a way to publicize players’ dissatisfaction with FIFA’s decision in Zurich in 2011, to allow Canada to host the games. Canadian soccer officials say that while a lawyer for Wambach and other players contended that 18 players were compainants, “the complaint is authorized to be brought by only seven players who have delivered consents to counsel advancing the case.” “None of the seven players (or even the 18) is resident in Ontario or plays on an Ontario or on a Canadian team,” the CSA wrote. “They are not authorized to and do not speak on behalf of the teams which have qualified or are attempting to qualify for the competition.” The CSA also wrote that “most elite players spend a significant amount of their playing time on turf. This is particularly the case in Canada. If the complaint proceeds, the CSA will demonstrate that there is no increased risk to players from the use of turf rather than grass.” Data will not dispute the fact that grass has been used at every men’s and women’s World Cup,” David Wright, a lawyer for the players, wrote in a letter Friday to the human rights tribunal. “The fact that the women feel demeaned by being forced to play on an inferior surface while millions watch is indisputable. Applicants allege unequal, discriminatory treatment that does not require extensive data and expert reports to prove, and the applicants deserve a ‘day in court’ before it is too late to remedy this injustice.” Fake Nike Shoes From China . After a tight first half, the Croatians took command in Reykjavik after Skulason was dismissed for a professional foul in the 51st minute, but couldnt find a way past Iceland goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson and his packed defence. 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The Patriots, who had a bye in Week 10, will look to continue the offensive success they had a week earlier when New England scored 55 points and racked up 610 yards of total offense in a 55-31 drubbing of the Pittsburgh Steelers.CHICAGO -- Derrick Rose scored 15 points and the Chicago Bulls ended the preseason with a 94-89 win Friday over the Denver Nuggets. Rose and the Bulls, who were without Joakim Noah (groin) and Kirk Hinrich (concussion), went 8-0 and completed their first perfect preseason of at least eight games since 1992. Carlos Boozer led the Bulls with 24 points and Luol Deng added 23 points and 12 rebounds for Chicago, which fell behind 48-29 with 2:16 left in the first half on a JaVale McGee basket. Chicago took its firsst lead at 60-58 on a Deng 3-pointer with 4:26 remaining in the third and took the lead for good on a Boozer layup with 1:50 left.dddddddddddd Anthony Randolph and McGee each had 15 points for Denver, which lost four straight to end the preseason at 2-5. 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