Why are artificial football pitches unpopular?

Artificial football pitches - made primarily of plastic - have several significant drawbacks that make them widely unpopular at elite level.Though the surfaces have improved dramatically since the 1980s, there is a perception of increased risk of injury, plus an impact on a team's style of play and - more broadly - the environment.Artificial pitches tend to be harder than real grass, which can increase the risk of injury to players.Turning is made harder on the knees and ankles by the tougher gr