Leeds coach backs calls for more research into 3G football pitches
A Leeds dad who coaches a junior football club says he's 'extremely concerned' about recent claims potentially linking 3G pitches with cancer. It comes after a former NHS boss raised concerns that the rubber crumb material which makes up the pitches might have contributed to his son being diagnosed with the disease.
Nigel Maguire's son, Lewis, 18, fell ill two years ago with Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
Nigel is now calling for more research to be carried out on the pitches, similar to that being done in the United States.
"I just assumed that this was some inner matieral that had been well-tested," he told Sky Sports News.
"Lewis used to come home with it in all his sports equipment, rubbed into his grazes, his cuts...he would also swallow it quite frequently.
"He would be playing on this two or three times a week diving for hours on end. I assumed it would just be innert but then I've looked into it and realised that this crumb rubber is actually made from shredded tyres."
The Football Association and FIFA both say current evidence shows 3G pitches are safe. The FA says that while they believe there is no scientific evidence linking the crumb rubber to cancer, it will monitor the situation.
James Bruce coaches North East Leeds Football Club and says that, until more research is done, he won't let his 9-year-old play on the pitches anymore: "I'm extremely concerned if I'm totally honest.
"The more I look into it the more I see the need for extensive research into this. I've played on them myself so it's a grave concern to me as well as my son."
He's been petitioning the FA to move the junior football season to summer, and argues that would reduce the need for artificial pitches: "Why not look at other alternatives to putting 3G pitches out there?
"Why not look at moving the junior football season to the summer months where we can play on grass pitches? It just makes more sense to me.
"If we moved the season, we wouldn't need all these pitches."
An FA spokesperson said: "The numerous scientific studies conducted by government agencies around the world, and undertaken by independent experts have all validated the human health and environmental safety of 3G pitches and crumb rubber.
"The FA adheres to the latest independent evidence which indicates that 3G pitches in the UK which are built to industry-standard specifications are safe."
A FIFA spokesperson said: "FIFA's Medical Assessment and Research Center (F-MARC) in cooperation with UEFA conducted an analysis of this matter in 2006.
"At that time, the conclusion was clear: the available body of scientific research on this issue did not substantiate the assumption that cancer resulting from exposure to SBR granulate infills in artificial turf could potentially occur.
"Since then, several independent research have been conducted - the latest being from 2015 - reaching similar conclusions. FIFA will continue monitoring and analysing any new evidence produced on this matter."