Why soccer players are sounding the alarm over NFL Brazil grass conditions

Although the NFL continues its international series in Brazil this weekend, all eyes are on the field conditions at Maracana Stadium.

The Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys are set to face off in Rio de Janeiro in Week 3, but the grass on the field appears to be a significant concerns. In the months leading up to the game, soccer players expressed their frustration with the conditions, and that's before the NFL and the NFLPA got involved.

Still, the game continues as expected with both teams hoping to produce a key victory in the NFL season. If the conditions are poor, though, the discussion will be about why the league allowed the game to continue on in Brazil as schedule.

Here's why there are concerns at Maracana Stadium in Brazil.

In the lead-up to Sunday's Ravens-Cowboys game in Brazil, soccer players have expressed their concerns that the field conditions at Maracana Stadium are not good. Agustín Rossi, the goalie for Brazil Series A's Flamengo, bluntly said that he can't believe the soccer leagues are allowing these conditions, let alone the NFL.

"You don't even need to talk about the field, it's there for everyone to see," Augustin Rossi said to Brazilian outlet ge, via A to Z Sports . "The way we play, it's unbelievable that we're playing on a field like this. Both penalty areas are bad as (expletiuve). If you look at it, there are bumps everywhere. There's still going to be an NFL game here during the international break. After that game, I hope the field is in better shape."

Flamengo midfielder Giorgian De Arrascaeta agreed with his teammate, arguing that the field conditions continue to worsen.

"We've been struggling a lot in these last few games, and the field keeps getting worse," De Arrascaeta said. "It's getting harder and harder to control the ball. We have to try to play quickly. If we want to be champions, we have to find a solution. With the team we have, we can't be playing on a field like this."

The NFL kept the game at Maracana Stadiuma despite these concerns. In the past, the league has moved international games that didn't meet the proper standards, but apparently the league is fine with the field conditions.

However, NFLPA president JC Tretter expressed on social media his issues with the situation as Maracana Stadium continues to work on improving the field for the game.

"Our number one priority is the health and safety of our players. The concern heading into this week was that the field would be loose, patchy, and lead to excessive slipping," Tretter said. "Those conditions are generally more of a playability and performance issue than a significant injury concern.

"But safety isn't the only standard. Players should be able to perform at the level they expect of themselves and that fans expect from them. A thin, slick field may not present the same risks as a surface with too much traction, but it still affects performance and the quality of the game."

Tretter added that the field is at risk of being too slippery and unstable.

"Based on our experts' assessment, the field needed better traction and stability," he said. They recommended reinforced stitching to help the surface hold together and brought in equipment to reinforce as much of the field as possible before the game. Our experts will remain engaged and continue evaluating conditions through kickoff."