Part 3/6:
Lucas framed the debate around the necessity of quality natural grass rather than settling for poor synthetic alternatives. While he acknowledged that some may prefer playing on a damaged natural field compared to a synthetic one, his stance remained unequivocal: a well-maintained natural pitch should always be the goal.
The FIFA Perspective
The discussion also touched on FIFA's regulations regarding pitch surfaces. While FIFA permits the use of synthetic fields due to commercial considerations, including places where natural grass cannot grow, it does not recommend it. Historical precedents where synthetic fields were replaced with natural grass for significant matches were cited to underline the prevailing preference for natural surfaces among top-tier competitions.