Besides 11-a-side football, FIFA is also the governing body for other forms of the game, including futsal. FIFA has developed a Handbook of Test Methods and Requirements for providers wishing to have their futsal surfaces certified. Futsal surfaces must fulfil the performance and quality criteria established to provide the best possible playing conditions.
As part of a strategy to develop the game and provide guidelines for member associations, a testing protocol has been put in place for futsal surfaces under a dedicated FIFA Quality Programme. As with the other FIFA Quality Programmes, the aim is neither to promote specific products nor to interfere in the market and block innovation, but to describe – in a technical way – surfaces that are best suited for use in futsal.
At this stage, FIFA is very aware of the fact that futsal is often played in multipurpose indoor halls that are also used for other sports, such as volleyball or basketball. We reflect this in the FIFA Quality standard by having tolerances that other sports are able to meet, while at the same time narrowing the requirements of the EN 14904 standard to better suit the game of futsal, incorporating some refined methods from futsal itself, as well as methods used in the testing of football turf.
