The Canadian women's soccer team boycotted training Saturday ahead of emergency labour talks with Canada Soccer in Florida. And captain Christine Sinclair says the players won't take the field until the governing body responds to their grievances.
"Until things move forward, I don't know what's going to happen. But we're not playing," Sinclair told The Canadian Press.
Canada Soccer traditionally publishes its financials in March. But Sinclair says the women's team can't negotiate in the dark -- without knowing what was spent on the men's team.That has not been the case in the past. In 2021, Canada Soccer spent $11 million on the men's team and $5.1 million on the women. Sinclair notes some $2.5 million of that women's funding came from Own The Podium, not Canada Soccer.
The clock is ticking with the Canadian women, the sixth-ranked team in the world, slated to take on the top-ranked U.S. next Thursday to kick off the four-team SheBelieves Cup in Orlando. Sinclair disputes that, saying Canada Soccer told them that it had to "pause" the compensation package and restructure its latest offer.
Sinclair says the men's team is solidly behind the women. Both sides are upset at budget cuts to their programs this year -- and what they say is lack of financial transparency by Canada Soccer.The women say the number of players and staff brought into the current camp has been cut, as has its duration. Youth camps have also been reduced as has the number of senior camps this year.
Part of the issue is Canada Soccer's deal with Canada Soccer Business, which represents all corporate partnerships and broadcast rights related to Canada Soccer's core assets including its national teams.