Canadian women prep for U.S. amid concern over soccer federation’s dealings
The Canadian women’s national soccer team is keeping a wary eye on concerns about its federation back home while focusing on a showdown with the United States in Mexico.
An investigation this week by The Sports Network detailed a controversial agreement between Canada Soccer and Canada Soccer Business, which oversees the federation’s media rights and sponsorship deals as both the men’s and women’s teams seek better and more equitable pay.
Earlier this week, the Canadian senior national teams put out a statement about the media outlet’s revelations and asked for a full investigation by the agency that governs sport in Canada.
“This must include a closer look at the motivations of those who are said to have entered into this agreement without following basic standards of proper governance, and why the agreement was allowed to remain in place if concerns were expressed by board members,” the statement said. “Moving forward, we call for the members of Canada’s national teams to be properly consulted in key Canada Soccer decisions impacting the national teams.”
The Canadian women, gold medallists at the Tokyo Olympics last year, are in Monterrey for the CONCACAF W Championship, which serves as the qualification tournament for the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Canada and the United States are set to meet in the final on Monday night.
Midfielder Quinn said the players were still digesting the TSN article.
“It’s been a tough week for us, but obviously we have an important match ahead,” Quinn said “That’s going to be the focus for us moving forward.”
Concerns about Canada Soccer’s relationship with CSB came to light last month when the Canadian men’s team refused to play in a friendly game against Panama over strained labour negotiations.
One of the sticking points was the $10 million US in FIFA bonus money the men’s team earned by qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1986. Canada’s national teams believe they are entitled to a share of the bonus.
The men’s team has asked for 40% of World Cup prize money, a friends and family travel package, and “equitable structure with our women’s national team that shares the same player match fees, percentage of prize money earned at our respective FIFA World Cups.”
Canada Soccer calls those demands untenable. The proposed distribution of World Cup prize money was “not financially viable once a consideration of the women’s national team portion was accounted.”
“It is critically important to reiterate and be abundantly clear: fairness and pay equity is at the heart of our ongoing negotiations and we are committed to finding a resolution that meets both of those values,” Canada Soccer said in its statement.
The players have also called for transparency concerning the agreement between the federation and Canada Soccer Business, which uses revenue from the deals it strikes to help fund Canada’s eight-team Canadian Premier League, which includes Langford-based Pacific FC.
The Canadian women have already qualified for the 2023 World Cup as semifinalists at the W Championship, but the winner earns a berth in the 2024 Olympics. Canada won the gold medal at the Tokyo Games, beating Sweden on penalties in the final after edging the United States 1-0 in the semifinals.