“The numbers speak for themselves”, said Solo, a national team goalkeeper for 15 years.
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“This is the strongest case of discrimination against women athletes in violation of law that I have ever seen”, Jeffrey Kessler, the players’ lawyer, told the New York Times.
The USWNT argue that they generate more revenue for the US and put the name of the country on the world map than the men’s team does.
Kessler said the filing is the first step toward a potential investigation by the EEOC, which typically leads to negotiations between two parties.
“Equal pay – men should have respect for us women”, said Angelica Ecevesquives.
We want to play in top-notch, grass-only facilities like the U.S. Men’s National Team.
While only five women signed the complaint, the players say it will be filed on behalf of the entire USWNT. The president of U.S. Soccer apologized for the snafu.
In bonus money, the women can earn about $75,000 at the World Cup, while men can earn nearly $400,000.
Aside from the obvious outrage over the disparity in wages, doesn’t anyone else think this is a little bit ridiculous because the women’s national soccer team is, you know, a hell of a lot better than the men’s national soccer team?
For example, NBC reports players on the U.S. Women’s National Team earn a $30,000 roster bonus if they make it to the World Cup. The women now make about a quarter of what the men make, and even their playing conditions are worse and they want that situation changed pronto!
“Our efforts to be advocates for women’s soccer are unwavering”, U.S. Soccer said. When the USA men played in the World Cup in Brazil in 2014, the team lost and still earned a total of $9 million.
US Soccer, in a brief statement on Thursday, said it was “disappointed” in the players’ complaint, adding that it was proud of its commitment to growing women’s soccer in the United States over the past 30 years. For the same match, a men’s team member gets a whopping $17,625 for a win and $5,000 for a loss.
“I think it encourages more girls to play soccer because they think if they get good enough they can play in their spots one day”, Seidu-Sofo said.
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The players union disputes its collective bargaining agreement with US Soccer, claiming the deal can be terminated at any time while the federation says the contract remains in force to the end of the year. Last month, she denounced soccer’s sexist pay disparity on “CBS This Morning”, saying, “This a time when we need to push for equality, and we need to push for what’s right”. The women have also won three straight Olympic gold medals as well as three World Cup titles. “And it’s not just in the sports world, it’s everywhere you look”.
