WOMEN OFFERED SAME PAY AS MEN FOR USSF MATCHES

The U.S. Soccer Federation says it has offered the women’s national team equal pay to male counterparts for matches under USSF control but maintains the women’s union wants bonuses for tournaments such as the World Cup to match those of the men.

“Since extending this offer, we have made multiple attempts to meet with the WNT to discuss these new options,” USSF President Carlos Corderio wrote Saturday night in a letter to federation friends and supporters.

“So far, they have repeatedly declined our invitation to meet on the premise that our proposal does not include U.S. Soccer agreeing to make up the difference in future prize money awarded by FIFA for the Men’s and Women’s World Cups.”

Players on the U.S. women’s national team are seeking more than $66 million in damages as part of their gender discrimination lawsuit against the USSF, which is scheduled for a trial starting May 5 at U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.

FIFA awarded $400 million in prize money for the 2018 men’s World Cup, including $38 million to champion France, and $30 million for last year’s Women’s World Cup, including $4 million to the U.S. after the Americans won their second straight title. FIFA has increased the total to $440 million for the 2022 men’s World Cup and FIFA President Gianni Infantino has proposed FIFA double the women’s prize money to $60 million for 2023.

FIFA pays bonuses to national federations, which each makes its own deal with its players.

Cordeiro said the USSF also had responsibility to invest in youth national teams and other programs, such as player, coach and referee development.

No handshakes in EPL

No handshakes were allowed, but Anfield saw plenty of fist pumps from Jurgen Klopp.

The trademark celebration was back, and repeatedly, with added gusto. Such exuberance might seem surprising for the manager of a Liverpool side now 25 points in front at the top of the Premier League.

But when the pursuit of an invincible league season was so unexpectedly ended with its first loss, at Watford last Saturday, before being knocked out of the FA Cup by Chelsea, Klopp had good reason to be relieved.

Especially when Liverpool had to come from behind to beat Bournemouth 2-1 on Saturday, with Sadio Mane setting up Mohamed Salah’s equalizer before grabbing the winner himself.

Relief, too, that games are still being played — and with fans — as the new coronavirus disrupts sports across the world.

The Premier League continued as planned, including Arsenal beating West Ham 1-0 and Tottenham being held 1-1 at Burnley, albeit with a new league edict on reducing body contact coming into effect.

Elsewhere

Tosaint Ricketts scored in the 74th minute to give the Vancouver Whitecaps (1-1-0) a 1-0 victory over the LA Galaxy (0-1-1) and spoil Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez’s MLS home debut.

• Frederic Brillant and Yamil Asad each scored and host DC United (1-1-0) edged Inter Miami (0-2-0) 2-1 in MLS action. Rodolfo Pizarro opened a 1-0 lead for Inter Miami in the second minute on a shot 12 yards out from the center of the box, assisted by Lewis Morgan. Asad tied the game for DC United on a penalty shot in the 59th minute.

• With some late help from video review and another decisive goal by Lionel Messi, Barcelona made it back to the top of the Spanish league.

Messi converted an 81st-minute penalty kick awarded by VAR as Barcelona salvaged a 1-0 win over gritty Real Sociedad at Camp Nou Stadium.