(Reuters) – The U.S. Soccer Federation defended on Friday its remedy of the World Cup-triumphing countrywide girls crew. It said it turned into surprise at a recent lawsuit (USWNT) alleging gender discrimination. All 28 contributors of the U.S. Women’s squad have been named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit that changed into filed in federal court docket in Los Angeles on International Women’s Day final week. It includes proceedings about wages and almost every other component of the group’s running conditions.
In an open letter, federation president Carlos Cordeiro stated that the body had made a sincere attempt to offer adequate resources viable to the women’s team. “U.S. Soccer believes that everyone girl athletes deserve truthful and equitable pay, and we strive to meet this middle fee at all times,” he added. The lawsuit merely comes three months before the U.S. Girls open their World Cup name defense in France.
The players stated they had always been paid much less money than their male counterparts, although their performance has been superior to the guys’ group. According to the lawsuit, filed three years after numerous players made a comparable criticism with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, U.S. Football has “entirely didn’t sell gender equality.”
Cordeiro, however, stated the soccer federation continues to be a champion for women’s sport in the United States and on the worldwide level. “From our proactive efforts to develop and spend money on ladies’ soccer at each degree within the U.S., to advocating for the improvement and expanded assist of the girls’ game international, U.S. Soccer is energetic, devoted and passionate in its assist nowadays and maybe into the long-time period destiny.”
Cordeiro delivered that the federation had in the latest years elevated its investment inside the USWNT program and labored in close partnership with the players to make sure they have the entirety they want.
“We have introduced the extra technical and excessive-performance team of workers focused handiest at the USWNT, furnished additional charter flights to enhance travel, and created two elite girls’ international tournaments to offer excessive-stage opposition in the United States, among different efforts to aid the crew,” he said.
“We also preserve to make bigger our investment in female participant improvement programs, including our 8 Youth National Team applications and the Girl’s Development Academy.” Cordeiro also pointed to a 2017 agreement with the girls’ crew.
“In April of 2017, we agreed to a fair and equitable collective bargaining settlement with the Women’s National Team, which included a contract structure that the players particularly requested to offer them with an assured income and advantages.
“At no factor in view that that point has gamers raised worries approximately the CBA itself, and we maintain to paintings with them inaccurate faith.”
