VANCOUVER -- Victor Montagliani, president of the Canadian Soccer Association, says its misinformation and hyperbole to claim women players are being discriminated against because of plans to use artificial turf at next years FIFA Womens World Cup. FIFA, soccers world governing body, will make the final decision on what turf will be used during next years championship, which will be played in six Canadian cities, Montagliani said Thursday. But he took exception to comments contained in a letter that the CSA was involved in "discriminatory treatment of women players." "I will say that is the biggest form of misinformation I have ever heard in my life," Montagliani said in an address to the Vancouver Board of Trade. "Those of you who know me, know that there would be a few more adjectives before that." Later, addressing reporters, Montagliani again denied any sort of discrimination against women. "Thats nothing but misinformation and typical hyperbole that has no room in the game," he said. The World Cup will attract 23 nations plus host Canada. The competition will see 52 matches between June 6 and July 5. BC Place Stadium in Vancouver will be the site of nine matches, including the final. Other games will be held in Moncton, N.B., Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg and Edmonton. A group of 40 international women soccer players have threatened a lawsuit over the plan to use artificial turf at the stadiums. They argue female athletes are being discriminated against because the mens World Cup is played on natural grass. The group includes stars like American Abby Wambach and Germans Nadine Angerer, the World Player of the year. Artificial turf is harder and faster than grass. It also has been linked to an increase in injury. The group sent a letter to Canadian soccer officials and FIFA. "Singling out this womens tournament for substandard treatment is a mistake," the letter says. "If your organizations will not engage in a meaningful dialogue on how to correct the discriminatory treatment of women players, we are prepared to pursue legal action which we are confident should succeed." Celebrities such as actor Tom Hanks and NBA superstars Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant have lent their support to the women. Montagliani said the CSA currently spends just over $4 million a year on the womens program, about twice the amount spent on the mens program. "The reality is were very proud of the investment we make on the womens side of the game," he said. "We might be the only federation that invests more in the womens game than we do the mens game. "To say we are not pulling our weight in that respect is nothing further from the truth." Sophie Schmidt, a national team veteran and member of the squad that won a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics, also spoke at the event but was careful in her comments when asked if organizers should be forced to use natural grass. "I will say Im pretty sure that every soccer player of any age wants to play on grass," she said. Montagliani couldnt say if it was even possible to install natural grass at the six stadiums in the time remaining before the tournament begins. "Im not a technician," he said. "Thats not my expertise. Those are things that are in the bailiwick of FIFA." Another issue would be who would pay for the cost of grass fields, the CSA or FIFA. "Those are discussions that would have to happen," Montagliani said. He denied the turf issue is a distraction. "Its not a distraction to us," Montagliani said. "As organizers we are doing our daily job. "Our staff is doing their daily job, our team is preparing for the World Cup." The CSA says hosting the World Cup and this years U-20 championship have a combined economic impact of $337 million across the country. The projections, compiled by the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance, predict the World Cup will generate $267 million in economic activity. British Columbia can expect $52 million in economic impact, of which $37 million will be in Vancouver. Montagliani said the CSA is considering bidding for the 2026 mens World Cup. To be successful, the country would need eight venues to host games. "To say a country like Canada doesnt have the infrastructure to do that or to invest in that, I find that highly doubtful," he said. One stumbling block for bidding could be the Canadians mens team struggles to qualify for the World Cup. Montagliani said the CSA has a long-term strategy to make the mens program a contender. He also pointed to Qatar hosting the 2022 World Cup while taking a swipe at Brazils 7-1 loss to Germany in this years semifinal. "Qatar doesnt really have much of a mens team," he said. "I dont think Brazil actually had much of one either." Grayson Allen Jersey . - Leon Draisaitl scored a hat trick as the Prince Albert Raiders stormed past the Swift Current Broncos 5-2 in Western Hockey League action Tuesday. 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The four All-Star teams will play for $100,000 in prize money during TSNs annual skins game, airing live this weekend on TSN from The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre.MONTREAL - It seems so long ago that the Winnipeg Blue Bombers went into Percival Molson Stadium and beat the Montreal Alouettes 19-11 on July 4. Who knew then that the Bombers would be 2-12 and facing playoff elimination when they returned to Montreal three months later? Watch the game on TSN starting at 12:30pm et/9:30am pt. You can also follow along with TSN.cas GameTracker. Or that the perennially contending Alouettes (6-8) would be recovering from their own setbacks, including the firing of new coach Dan Hawkins only five games into the season and a concussion that has sidelined quarterback Anthony Calvillo since Aug. 17? It was all optimism back then, and now both teams will be looking to salvage what they can from a season of frustration when they face each other on Monday afternoon. "Throw out all the stats, throw all the records out the window — all that matters is the win," Montreal coach Jim Popp. The Alouettes at least still have hope. A win Monday would give them their first three-game streak of the season and set them up for a battle for second place in the East Division in back to back games beginning Sunday against the second-place Hamilton Tiger-Cats (7-7). Finishing at 9-9 — the same record Toronto had last season before winning the Grey Cup — is not out of the question. "Theres a great feeling in the locker room and on the field," said linebacker Shea Emry. "Theres a better tempo. "Its exciting to see a team come together like that because, in years past, weve come together early on the season and then kind of dwindled at the end. But we are trying to peak. Were not there yet, but were looking towards it." For the Bombers to make the playoffs, they need to beat Montreal to win the three-game season series between the two clubs, plus win their three other remaining games and have the Alouettes lose all their games. Slim chances, indeed, and they got slimmer this week when the Bombers traded CFL sacks leader Alex Hall to Saskatchewan for an injured offensive lineman and a draft pick. But coach Tim Burke said he hasnt sensed that any of his players have thrown in the towel yet. "I dont think so,"he said. "We had another good week of practice. "We were really focused. Guys really want to play." Josh Neiswander has taken over as the starting quarterback in Montreal and has looked sharp, particularly in a 47-24 win last week in Edmonton. He has thrown only one intterception in his last three games.dddddddddddd He got the job when rookie Tanner Marsh tore a ligament in his right thumb a month ago. Marsh resumed practising this week and will dress as the third quarterback, but probably wont play. The defence has been especially effective, leading the league against the run and featuring an aggressive pass rush that has led to them leading in interceptions with 22. Popp said he asked his team to forget the first 12 games, when they were 4-8, and focus on the last six as a kind of mini-season leading into the playoffs. So far, they are 2-0 in that segment. "We had a bad start, but so did B.C. in 2011," said Emry of the Lions Grey Cup victory after a horrendous start. "I guess were trying to create our own little story over here." Linebacker Kyries Hebert said the Alouettes cannot allow themselves to take the Bombers lightly despite their four-game losing run. "Its the same as you prepare for a 12-2 team," said Hebert. "These guys lost some close games. "They found a way to come here and get a victory in Montreal. So, bigger than their record is the fact that theyre a divisional opponent and they beat us on our home turf, so we have to come back and redeem ourselves." Max Hall is likely to start for the Bombers, although Burke said the race is still on for the No. 1 job with Justin Goltz and Jason Boltus. "I dont think any of our quarterbacks have reached the point where you could say theyre starting quarterback calibre in this league," said Burke. "One of our guys has to step forward in the remainder of this year or were going to have to go out and get another quarterback." The same is true at a few positions on a team that Burke said has "personnel deficiencies." Many Winnipeg players are fighting for jobs for next season, so they wont lack motivation. And Burke himself has to wonder if he will be retained, although he feels he deserves another chance after enduring a lot of injuries and not a lot of talent. "Id like to be back," said the former Alouettes defensive co-ordinator. "Id like to have a chance to work with a team that has more of its pieces put together. "I think it would be tough for anybody to handle what weve gone through. I believe the team has competed hard every week. Weve put forth the energy necessary to be a competitive team. Nobody has ever given up. We were just not good enough." 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