Top female footballers withdrew their lawsuit yesterday that accused Fifa of gender discrimination in its decision to play this summer’s Women’s World Cup on artificial turf.

The suit, filed under Ontario’s Human Rights Code in October, was also directed at the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) and was backed by players including US star forward Abby Wambach.

They argued that the tournament in Canada should be played on grass, as every men’s World Cup has been, but it will go ahead on synthetic pitches.

Wambach, a former Fifa world player of the year, said in a statement on Wednesday: “On behalf of the players, I want to thank all who aided our fight for natural grass fields at the 2015 World Cup including our volunteer lawyers from Canada and the United States.

“Our legal action has ended. But I am hopeful that the players’ willingness to contest the unequal playing fields — and the tremendous public support we received during the effort — marks the start of even greater activism to ensure fair treatment when it comes to women’s sports.”

The tournament takes place from June 6 to July 5. England have qualified, and will play France, Mexico and Colombia in the group stage.

Fifa secretary-general Jerome Valcke said in December it was “a nonsense” to suggest playing the tournament on artificial turf could be considered discriminatory.

He said yesterday: “Over the last months we have personally engaged with players and technical staff from the qualified teams to address their concerns and doubts. 

“What was very clear from the meetings with the players was their desire and enthusiasm about making this the greatest Fifa Women’s World Cup ever, and to ensure that they have the best possible conditions to perform well.

“This is a goal they share with Fifa and we are totally committed to providing the best possible surface to enable everyone to enjoy a great footballing spectacle.”

US lawyer Hampton Dellinger, who represented the players, claimed in a statement published on the Sports Illustrated website that players had been threatened with bans in retaliation for their court challenge.

He said: “Since a coalition of the world’s best female soccer players initiated legal action, the tactics of Fifa and CSA have included threatening protesting players with suspension, doing everything possible to delay a final court ruling despite the players’ need to know what surface the tournament will be held on so they can train accordingly, suggesting they would either defy an adverse court ruling or cancel the tournament and, most recently, rejecting the players’ undeniably fair settlement offer.”