Some of the leading lights in Dutch football have urged the Dutch football association to ban clubs from playing on artificial turf in the Eredivisie.

The initiative has been taken by four former Oranje captains: Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, Ruud Gullit and Mark van Bommel. In total, 100 coaches, trainers, former players and internationals have signed the manifesto.

‘Football on artificial turf is a completely different game. The speed of the ball, tackles… technically it is quite different from real grass,’ Van Bommel told the AD. ‘And it is significant that no leading football country is following this artificial grass trend.’

The signatories say that the use of artificial turf by an increasing number of professional clubs is damaging the image, level, future and respect for Dutch football.