Jerome Valcke denies FIFA discrimination

FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke has rubbished suggestions that women's football is being discriminated against.

The Women's World Cup in Canada will be played on artificial turf next summer, but a number of elite players have argued that it should be a tournament played on grass.

"If anyone is saying the use of the artificial pitch is a question of discrimination, it's a nonsense," Valcke told reporters.

"It's completely crazy to say that. It has nothing to do with discrimination.

"I want everyone to understand that we at FIFA are working every day to develop women's football around the world."

The draw for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup will be made in Ottawa on Saturday.