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TORONTO - The war over words over artificial turf at the Womens World Cup has become bogged down in semantics ahead of Saturdays draw in Ottawa.And that is frustrating the legal team representing a rebel faction of players as it tries to chip away at the monolithic world governing body of soccer.While a legal challenge snakes it way through the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, lawyers for the players have gone down a number of avenues to keep their storyline front and centre.Jerome Valcke, FIFAs secretary-general, seemingly opened up a new path in an Oct. 29 fifa.com article when he said: We will again welcome open dialogue at the official draw on Dec. 6 in Ottawa.But with no players expected to be present at the draw other than Canadian captain Christine Sinclair, it appears that dialogue looks to be very limited.Most players outside North America are in season with their clubs while the U.S., China and Brazil are in Brazil for a tournament. And Sinclair, like the other Canadian players who answer to the host Canadian Soccer Association, has been deliberately kept out of the fray.Hampton Dellinger, the lead lawyer for the women, jumped on Valckes open dialogue comment and invited the FIFA executive to participate in a conference call around the draft with American Abby Wambach, Germanys Nadine Angerer, Spains Veronica Boquete, and Brazils Marta.Valcke declined the offer, telling Dellinger he was unable to meet during the time requested. But he said team representatives and FIFA officials would meet at the draw.FIFA welcomes continued dialogue with players through the competent bodies within FIFA, including the Committee for Womens Football and the FIFA Womens World Cup, wherein female players interests are duly represented, he said in his response.Valcke will be at the draw and, according to the Oct. 29 article, is willing to talk — thought it seems on his terms.Dialogue with the participating teams and, naturally, the players is very important to us and we keep open channels of communication with all parties before, during and after the event ... I, personally, will attend (the draw) alongside our pitch expert and medical teams, and I am sure that in this way we will be able to address all concerns and doubts so that all of the participating teams can focus on their preparation for the biggest event in women’s football, he was quoted in the Oct. 29 article.A FIFA spokesperson reiterated that via email.The FIFA general-secretary is already in contact with players and members associations and will meet with all the team representatives present during his stay on the occasion of the official draw.Valckes rejection drew an immediate, incendiary response from Dellinger.Mr. Valcke, please stop the spin doctoring and shoot the players (and the press and public) straight: will you or will you not speak DIRECTLY with Nadine Angerer, Abby Wambach, and other protesting players about their concerns and doubts regarding the tournament? wrote Dellinger.Awaiting your response are the 2013 World Player of the Year (Angerer), the 2012 World Player of the Year (Wambach), the 2006-10 World Player of the Year (Marta), Australias Samantha Kerr, Spains Veronica Boquete, and the rest of the now 80-member-plus player coalition.Together, they feel the actions of FIFA and CSA (Canadian Soccer Association) are wrong and unlawful. But they also believe, as do I, that there is time to make all aspects of the upcoming Womens World Cup truly world-class.The womens legal complaint argues that playing their showcase tournament on artificial turf is tantamount to discrimination because the men play their World Cup on grass.In recent weeks, lawyers for the women have also pointed the finger at tournament prize money and the use of goal-line technology as differences between the mens and womens events in a bid to bolster their different gender, different treatment argument.While lawyers for the women have been active on legal offence, FIFA has offered a minimal defence — usually via its website.FIFA argues that playing on turf is within the laws of the game, provided it meets set standards, and that artificial turf makes sense for the Canadian climate. And Valcke has said a mens World Cup on artificial turf could come sooner rather than later.FIFA says there is no decision yet on the use of goal-line technology at the Canadian event. Prize money for the 2015 tournament is expected to be announced some time after the FIFA Executive Committee meeting in mid-December.The 32-team mens tournament in Brazil this summer featured total prize money of US$476 million. The total purse of the 16-country womens tournament in 2011 was $7.6 million.The 2015 Womens World Cup, which features 24 teams, runs June 6 to July 5 in Moncton, Ottawa, Montreal, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Vancouver.Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter . The England international raised his middle finger toward Manchester City supporters during Saturdays game at Etihad Stadium, which Arsenal lost 6-3. The incident was not seen by match officials at the time but the FA charged Wilshere retrospectively after a study of video footage. . The 26-year-old slider from Calgary posted a time of 50.464 seconds, 0.573 seconds back of leader Natalie Geisenberger. The German led the overall World Cup womens standings this season and continued her dominance by putting down a track record time of 49. http://www.blazersteamofficial.com/Bill ... ey/.Hammel pitched inside more and it helped him get into the seventh inning as the Colorado Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 3-2 on Friday night. . Toronto (11-12) gave up leads in 10-8 and 11-4 losses to the Baltimore Orioles this week. It was never close Friday as the Boston Red Sox got to Mark Buehrle early en route to an 8-1 win. . Parnell will be out much longer if it turns out he needs surgery. But first, he will try resting for two weeks before beginning a throwing program that could last up to a month, general manager Sandy Alderson said.ATLANTA - Mike Smiths status as the winningest coach in Falcons history wasnt enough to save his job.Owner Arthur Blank said he fired Smith on Monday because in his heart of hearts he didnt believe Smith could take the Falcons to the Super Bowl.Smiths firing came one day after the end of his second straight losing season, capped by Sundays ugly 34-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers before booing fans at the Georgia Dome.Smiths 66 wins in seven seasons are the most for any Falcons coach. He reeled off five straight winning seasons for a franchise which previously had not finished above .500 in back-to-back years.For an owner looking to the future, those accomplishments were overshadowed by the Falcons 10-22 combined mark the past two seasons, including 6-10 in 2014. Blank acknowledged his confidence in Smith was shaken despite his affection for the coach.Can that individual take you to the next level? Blank said of his appraisal of Smith. If your answer is no in your heart or hearts, you have to put away your personal feelings.Blank said more changes could come. He said general manager Thomas Dimitroff will be part of the search for a new coach, but then could have his status reviewed.Hiring the coach is the first move, but may not be the only move, Blank said, adding he has told Dimitroff every part of our football organization will be under scrutiny. This may stop. It may finish today. It may not finish today. I dont know where were going to end up with this.Dimitroff, who was hired with Smith before the 2008 season, and team president Rich McKay attended Mondays news conference with Blank.Dimitroff said he and Smith are very proud of five straight losing seasons from 2008-12.The last two years obviously have not been what we wanted, Dimitroff said. I take a great deal of responsibility for what happens with this organization and the team building that has taken place. We think we have some good football players on this team.I know that I have made mistakes and Im going to be scrutinized for it. ... I am responsible as much as Smitty is for this organization, the success of this organization and the downfall of this organization.Atlanta had a 66-46 regular-season record with Smith and won two NFC South titles, but it was 1-4 in the post-season..ddddddddddddIts a fact Smitty was the most successful coach in the history of the Falcons franchise, Blank said.Despite their losing record, the Falcons would have won the NFC South and hosted a wild-card playoff game by beating Carolina on Sunday.Blank said the decision to fire Smith was not based on one game. He left open the possibility a playoff berth might have saved Smiths job.I had not made a decision if we had won what our next step was going to be, Blank said.Blank said firing Smith was the most difficult decision Ive had to make. Blank said he met with Smith on Monday, and the meeting ended with an exchange of warm emotions.The last thing he said was I love you and I said the same thing, Blank said.Blank said he will be in the middle of the search for a new coach, with the assistance of the Korn Ferry search firm. The Falcons also have hired former Chiefs and Eagles executive Joe Banner as a consultant.Potential candidates include Denver offensive co-ordinator Adam Gase, New England offensive co-ordinator Josh McDaniels, Arizona defensive co-ordinator Todd Bowles and former New York Jets coach Rex Ryan.Blank said the search team on Monday would begin submitting formal requests to interview candidates currently coaching other teams. He said he had no timetable for hiring a new coach.NFL rules allow interviews to be held this week with coaches — including Gase and McDaniels — whose teams are in a bye in the first week of the playoffs.Blank credited Smith with bringing stability to a franchise rocked by quarterback Michael Vicks arrest on animal cruelty charges and coach Bobby Petrinos unexpected departure for Arkansas during the 2007 season.Smith immediately raised expectations with an 11-5 finish in his first season, and he was the NFL coach of the year. The Falcons won 10 or more games in four seasons under Smith, including 13-3 finishes in 2010 and 2012. Smith reached 50 wins in only 71 games, the third-fastest pace since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.Smith was the defensive co-ordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2003-07. He was a defensive assistant with Baltimore from 1999-2002.___Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL___Follow Charles Odum on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CharlesOdum ' ' '