Canada’s National Men’s Team wants a salary equal to that of its National Women’s Team.

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, OTTAWA — The Canadian national team squad has finally returned to training after being denied an exhibition game against Panama. The Canadian team for this World Cup was at odds due to the failure of salary negotiations with the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA),

The CSA announced that the two parties met on Sunday (5/6/2022) local time after canadian national team rejected the game against Panama. A day later, the players resumed training and the game against Panama was again organised.

This Canadian team was formed to play in the CONCACAF National League. In the first game, Canada will meet Curacao on Friday (10/6/2022) morning WIB.

The CSA is deemed not to have announced the exhibition match. The players also hope that the CSA will resolve this situation.

“We look forward in the hope that Canada Soccer will work with us to resolve this situation,” said a statement from the Canadian players, quoted by AP, on Wednesday (06/08/2022).

The match against Panama was called off just two hours before kick-off when the players refused to enter the pitch. The players did not train for two days before the game.

Tim released a statement on Sunday (5/6/2022) outlining his contract requirements, including 40% of World Cup prize money, travel packages for friends and family and equity for the women’s national team. The Canadian national team demands an equal player structure and salaries for female players from the FIFA World Cup fund and the development of a national women’s league.

Players also want transparency with Canadian Soccer Business. In 2018, he signed an agreement with the federation to oversee media rights, sponsorship deals and other commercial assets.

“We wanted to work closely with our organizations but those relationships have been strained over the years and now Canada Soccer has disrespected our team and compromised our efforts to raise standards and effectively advance the game in Canada. “, continues the press release.

The decision comes less than a month after the unions for the American men’s and women’s teams reached a historic agreement with the American federation on equal pay.

CSA President Nick Bontis called the players’ demands untenable. The federation offered its proposal to the team on Friday.

“Canada Soccer has worked in good faith with players to find a fair and equal path for all. We wanted to have a fact-based discussion within the fiscal realities that Canada Soccer has to live with every day,” said Bontis.

“Canada Soccer is committed to upholding the principles of fairness and equality. We believe we have made fair offers to players. We compare our offers to those of other national teams around the world,” continued Bontis.

Bontis also mentioned the issue of gender equality which was also raised in the player’s letter. The CSA is also committed to doing the same for its National Women’s Team.

The Canadians are ranked sixth in the world and won Olympic gold last year. The women’s national team which took part in the review of the dispute with the men’s national team a few days ago said that negotiations with the federation had been ongoing since January.

The statement noted that the women’s national team does not consider the percentage of World Cup prize money earned by each team as an equal amount. But the women’s team said they saw last week’s federation proposal as a step in the process.

“The Women’s National Team will not accept any deal that does not offer equal pay,” their statement read.

Panama is a replacement team that was suddenly named as an opponent after the Iranian national team was canceled due to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s refusal. Canada is also scheduled to visit Honduras on June 13 in a CONCACAF Nations League game.