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American soccer players are aiming at the decision by the U.S. Soccer Federation to have them play Venezuela at Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium, claiming the playing surface is dangerous.
The game will serve the U.S. team's final preparation match ahead of the 2019 Gold Cup, and will also mark the first time the U.S. has played in Cincinnati.
The U.S. National Soccer Team Players Association (USNSTPA) released a statement opposing the match, which will be played on a temporary grass field.
"The United States Soccer Federation is not a fan of the game, but it is only for the fans, its employees, its sponsors, and the private sector. with the federation, "the union said in a statement Thursday.
The union released on April 2 email it said it felt to USSF President Carlos Cordeiro in which players said the friendly "would be waste of time and resources, is a threat to player safety, and would be damaging to the effort to develop the United States men's national team and help the team achieve competitive success. "
Nippert Stadium is home to Major League Soccer's expansion Cincinnati team. The USNSTPA said "a game played on sod on top of artificial turf will be a waste of 90 minutes and also presents a substantial increased risk of player injury."
Reports have also been published in the US at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.
Venezuela is coming off an impressive 3-1 win over Argentina in Madrid last month. The U.S. will begin play in the Gold Cup Friday, June 18 in Saint Paul, Minn.
Following that match, the U.S. moves east to face Trinidad & Tobago on Saturday, June 22 in Cleveland before closing group play against Panama on Wednesday, June 26 in Kansas City, Kan.
The final is scheduled for Chicago 's Soldier Field on July 7.
Information from ESPN FC's Jeff Carlisle and The Associated Press was used in this report.
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