The five clubs in the Brasileirão Serie A that currently play on synthetic turf, have issued a joint statement to oppose the idea of banning synthetic turf in the Brazilian top football league.
Athletico-PR, Atlético-MG, Botafogo, Chapecoense, and Palmeiras all oppose the idea suggested by Fluminense and Flamengo for a set of changes to the CBF to end the use of synthetic pitches in Brazil.
The two clubs made the suggestion during the recent Technical Council of the 2026 Brazilian Championship.
In a response, the five clubs that currently use synthetic turf, issued a statement saying that quality synthetic turf is better than natural fields in poor conditions. The clubs also point out that there are no conclusive scientific studies on increased injuries on this type of surface.
The statement read: “In light of recent public statements about the use of synthetic pitches in Brazilian football, Athletico Paranaense, Atlético, Botafogo, Chapecoense, and Palmeiras reaffirm their position in defense of this technology, adopted responsibly, regulated, and aligned with the best international practices.
First of all, it is essential to recognize that there is no standardization of pitches in Brazil. Ignoring this fact and directing criticism exclusively at synthetic pitches reduces a complex debate to a simplified, unfair, and technically incorrect narrative.
We also reiterate that a high-performance synthetic pitch surpasses, in many aspects, the natural fields in poor conditions present in a significant part of the country’s stadiums.
It is equally important to clarify that there is no conclusive scientific study proving an increase in injuries caused by modern synthetic pitches.
The issue of pitch quality is legitimate, healthy, and necessary. However, it must be conducted responsibly, with objective data and technical knowledge, and not with narratives that distort reality, misinform the public, and disregard the complexity of the subject.”
It appears that the Technical Council of the 2026 Brazilian Championship is currently thinking along the same lines. They have decided to maintain the regulations currently in force.
Challenge
Alessandro Oliveira, CEO of Soccer Grass (the company responsible for the synthetic turfs of Palmeiras and Chapecoense), has challenged Flamengo and Maracanã to face the same tests carried out by FIFA on a FIFA Quality Pro synthetic turf surface. “If there was a problem of players with injuries, Palmeiras itself would be against it and would not renew its synthetic. It is clear that injury, safety and football performance is consolidated by the exchange that Palmeiras has decided to make now. The club has responsible professionals, and they did it for safety and benefit. Today playing at Allianz is extremely safe, and it’s not me who says it, it’s FIFA with the performance and safety tests they do. This does not apply to natural lawns because if they went through this, few would pass the tests,” he told a Brazilian publication.
“This attack by Flamengo [on synthetic turf] is pure clubism, they should use this time to try to improve the lawns of Brazilian football, including Maracanã, which today does not have good conditions for natural turf. I make myself available to the Flamengo people to do tests at Maracanã with FIFA. At no cost, I pay. Even to see the parameters, if you need to improve the synthetic or the natural, to measure this in the light of science. Without guesswork and clubism, for the sake of football,” he added.