Men’s union takes issue with U.S. Soccer president

The players’ association for the U.S. men’s national team is criticizing U.S. Soccer president Carlos

Cordeiro’s efforts to counter arguments made by the women’s team in a fight over pay.

Cordeiro sent a letter to the federation’s members Monday that said U.S. Soccer paid the World Cup champion women’s team more than the men’s team over the period from 2010 to 2018.

The letter came as the federation faces mounting public pressure over pay issues. Players for the women’s team filed a federal lawsuit in March alleging gender discrimination by U.S. Soccer in matters including compensation. The issue was highlighted at the Women’s World Cup in France, where the crowd chanted “Equal Pay!” following the U.S. victory in the final earlier this month.

U.S. Soccer also claimed the women’s team generated less gross revenue than the men’s team from 2009 to 2019 and that women’s games resulted in a net loss of $27.5 million for the federation over an 11-year span.

The union for the men’s team took issue with those points, pointing out they lacked context.

▶ Brazilian police said Tuesday they have decided there are no grounds to bring rape charges against soccer star Neymar, and they are investigating whether his accuser filed a false report.

Brazilian model Najila Trindade accused the 27-year-old forward of raping her in a Paris hotel in May. He denied the accusation and said their relations were consensual. Sao Paulo police investigator

Juliana Lopes Bussacos interviewed Trindade three times about her claims. Bussacos also said 12 other people were also questioned. Neymar himself was heard for about five hours in mid-june.