World Cup women's soccer players 'at risk' from poor pitches

Women representing their nations to qualify for the soccer World Cup are risking their safety on poor quality pitches, and many are playing for no pay, according to a poll released on Tuesday by the global body that represents players.

Nearly 30 per cent of international women soccer players polled for the FIFPRO report said that they have been playing for nothing, while two-thirds said they had to take unpaid leave from their jobs to represent their country in confederation championships.

The report, released on Tuesday, revealed widespread dissatisfaction with pitch and stadium conditions, medical evaluations and a general absence of universal standards, leading FIFPRO to call for a review of the qualification processes for the six regional soccer confederations.

Match-day stadiums and pitches were not of an "elite standard," according to 32 per cent of the players, while more than half said they were not provided with a pre-tournament medical exam.

"The conditions that the players are exposed to and expected to deliver in, during some of the biggest competitive moments of their lives, are not up to the standards of elite international football, putting both the players and the sport at risk," FIFPRO said.

"FIFPRO firmly calls on the industry to take a closer look at the qualification processes in each of the six Confederations."

The report comes amid global concern over injuries in the women's game, with a growing chorus calling for better research into the prevalence of injuries ahead of the World Cup, which is scheduled to kick off on July 20 in Australia and New Zealand.

Several high-profile players will be sidelined from the quadrennial tournament, including the American sharpshooter Mallory Swanson, Canada's gold