The players filing the complaint include the most well-known female soccer players in the world – Carli Lloyd, Becky Sauerbrunn, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, and Hope Solo. “We work just as much”, Alex revealed on the Today Show March 31. “I think that we’ve proven our worth over the years”. She said some of her players hope to one day represent their country on the soccer field.
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U.S. Soccer has emphasized that its commitment to women’s soccer is “unwavering” after five stars from the women’s national team filed a federal complaint Thursday morning alleging wage discrimination.
The US women earned just $2 million in prize money, which the federation distributed to the women and the organization, while the losing men’s team picked up $9 million.
Players on the U.S. Women’s National Team have been unhappy with the way they have been compensated by U.S. Soccer and on Wednesday the team took action.
They’ve filed a complaint with the equal employment opportunity commission claiming un-safe work conditions, having to play on artificial turf when the men never do. It’s about equal pay.
Women’s team members make a base salary of $72,000 per year from the federation along with occasional bonuses, while men’s team members are paid differing amounts depending on the type of game and their performance. The claim states that men are paid $3,750 for each sponsor appearance and women are paid $3,000. But with the team’s collective bargaining agreement reportedly up or invalid (a battle the team has been fighting with U.S. Soccer for a few years now) U.S. Soccer is allegedly not even considering paying the women’s team equal to the men as they go into new negotiations. The women have won three gold medals and three World cups while shattering ratings records for American soccer games, as 26.7 million people watched them beat Japan, according to The Today Show. On the other hand, men would earn around $263,320 (more than double) in the same situation, and would still earn $100,000 if they lost all 20 games.
The federation pays the men and women equally for qualifying for the Olympics and making the roster for the event.
Many players on the national team have become increasingly vocal about gender equity in the sport, something that came to light in advance of last year’s World Cup.
The EEOC will now conduct an investigation into the matter and could seek relief for members of the women’s team if it rules in their favor.
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Maria Seidu-Sofo is in the eighth grade and plays soccer for the United Soccer Club of SEMO.
