Football: Team Canada players end strike under threat of legal action

The strike only lasted one day. Five months before the Women’s World Cup (from July 20 to August 20, 2023, in Australia and New Zealand), the players of the Canadian selection stopped their strike on Saturday February 11, which began the day before, under threat legal action by the Federation. In a press release issued by the Canadian Women’s Soccer Players Association, they demanded a “immediate change” on the part of their federation so that it respects its commitment to fairness between the players. This movement comes six months after the strike initiated by the men’s team, opposed to the new contract proposed by their federation.

From Sunday, the players will resume training for their match against the United States, Thursday, February 16, as part of the SheBelieves Cup, then the World Cup this summer. “Canada Soccer told us that they considered our industrial action an illegal strike,” they write, threatened if they continue by future “legal measures” for the “force to return to the field”, associated with requests for “which could be millions of dollars in damages”. The women’s team has therefore given up its strike action, but recalls that it considers the “cuts” budgetary “unacceptable”.

Like their Danish counterparts six years ago, the Canadians lament having to fight for “fair and equitable treatment” and denounce a lack of consideration of the Federation in relation to the men’s team. “With less than six months to go until the biggest tournament in women’s soccer history, our preparation for the World Cup and the future success of the Women’s National Team program is compromised by Canada Soccer’s continued inability to support its national teams. Despite our historic successes and achievements for over a decade, we continue to be told that there is not enough money to adequately fund our U17 and U20 program and teams.” justifies the press release on Friday, launching the strike movement.

“We are tired”

“If Canada Soccer is unwilling or unable to support our team, a change in leadership will have to be considered,” again wrote the reigning Olympic champions, supported by their male counterparts. The press release also mentioned that due to the lack of funding from the federation, the team had to give up gatherings as part of the preparation for the World Cup. According to captain Christine Sinclair, in 2021 the institution granted more than 11 million Canadian dollars (more than seven million euros) to the men’s team compared to around five million (about 3.5 million euros) to the women’s team. The previous year, the expenses were almost equivalent, around three million Canadian dollars (two million euros) each, but always to the advantage of the men.

The press release also mentioned a use of a limited number of players and staff. The players, “tired of constantly having to [se] fight for fair and just treatment”, finally regretted that no match was organized in Canada to prepare for the World Cup. Although they have stopped their movement, the players nevertheless emphasize that they continue “to believe that Canada Soccer must do more to support its programs and its players”, And “that if we do not demand more, no change will be made”.