Canada Soccer and its women’s national team players have reached an interim sponsorship agreement, the sport’s governing body said on Thursday.
The terms of the deal, which went into effect last season, mirror those of the men’s national team, Canada Soccer said, with per-match incentives and results-based compensation. A final collective bargaining agreement is still being negotiated.
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The announcement said the national women’s national team’s final agreement with Canada Soccer had expired in 2021. With an agreement in place, details of the federation’s sponsorship are being consulted by both parties’ legal counsel. complete.
“This is about respect, this is about dignity, and this is about balancing the competitive environment in a world that is fundamentally unequal,” Canada Soccer Secretary-General Earl Cochrane said in a statement. declare.
“We’ve been consistent and public about the need for fairness and equal pay to be the backbone of any new deal with our players, and we’re doing that today. .”
A labor dispute between the governing body and their women’s team has thrown preparations for the FIFA Women’s World Cup into turmoil less than 150 days before the four-year tournament begins. head.
The Canadian women, who are seeking pay equal to their male counterparts, claim they are not compensated for 2022. They said they had to cut back on training camp days and the full length of the camp, as well as a cut in the number of players and staff invited to participate. camp. They were informed that there would be no home matches scheduled before the FIFA Women’s World Cup this summer.
Olympic champions played Last month’s SheBelieves Cup was opposed after facing the risk of being sued for their plan to strike to address equity and budgetary issues.
During the anthems before each game, the players wear purple shirts with the words “Enough is enough” and then wear purple armbands during matches. Purple is a symbol of justice. The American and Japanese players also wore purple armbands to show solidarity.
Earlier this week, Canada Soccer President Nick Bontis resignssaid: “I admit that this moment needs to change.”
On Thursday, before the women’s sponsorship deal was announced, both national teams released a statement calling the leadership change “a necessary step” to ensure success and growth. of football in Canada.
“However, Canada Soccer must also meet the requirements of the players’ association for fair, transparent and comprehensive access to its financial records, particularly due to recent budget cuts for with the very programs that have generated unprecedented sponsor interest in supporting national teams.” the statement said. “They need to address the unauthorized use of images of national team players. They need to take immediate action to resolve the unresolvable financial constraints caused by the agreement with Canadian Soccer Business. , one and forever.”
The two teams have called on the federation to work with them on the best path forward before a successor is named.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this story.
