U.S. women soccer players reached a landmark agreement with the sportB次元官网网址檚 American governing body to end a six-year legal battle over equal pay, a deal in which they are promised $24 million plus bonuses that match those of the men.
The U.S. Soccer Federation and the women announced a deal Tuesday that will have players split $22 million, about . The USSF also agreed to establish a fund with $2 million to benefit the players in their post-soccer careers and charitable efforts aimed at growing the sport for women.
The USSF committed to providing an equal rate of pay for the womenB次元官网网址檚 and menB次元官网网址檚 national teams B次元官网网址� including World Cup bonuses B次元官网网址� subject to collective bargaining agreements with the unions that separately represent the women and men.
B次元官网网址淔or our generation, knowing that weB次元官网网址檙e going to leave the game in an exponentially better place than when we found it is everything,B次元官网网址� 36-year-old midfielder Megan Rapinoe said during a telephone interview with The Associated Press. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 what itB次元官网网址檚 all about because, to be honest, there is no justice in all of this if we donB次元官网网址檛 make sure it never happens again.B次元官网网址�
The settlement was a victory for the players, who when they in France in 2019. And it was a success for USSF President Cindy Parlow Cone, a former player who in March 2020.
Cone replaced Carlos Cordeiro, who quit after the federation made a than male counterparts.
B次元官网网址淭his is just one step towards rebuilding the relationship with the womenB次元官网网址檚 team. I think this is a great accomplishment and IB次元官网网址檓 excited about the future and working together with them,B次元官网网址� Cone said. B次元官网网址淣ow we can shift the focus to other things, most importantly, growing the game at all levels and increasing opportunities for girls and women.B次元官网网址�
U.S. women have won four World Cups since the programB次元官网网址檚 start in 1985, while the men since 1930.
Five American stars led by Alex Morgan and Rapinoe began the challenge with a in April 2016. , seeking damages under the federal Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
The sides , dealing with issues such as charter flights, accommodations and playing surfaces. They were before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in an attempt to reinstate the .
B次元官网网址淭he settlement announced today is an important step in righting the many wrongs of the past,B次元官网网址� the union for the womenB次元官网网址檚 team said in a statement.
While a labor contract remains to be reached and ratified to replace that , the settlement was an enormous step.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 so gratifying to feel like we can start to mend a relationship with U.S. Soccer that has been severed for so many years because of the discrimination that we faced,B次元官网网址� said Morgan, a 32-year-old forward. B次元官网网址淭o finally get to this moment feels like we can almost sigh a breath of relief.B次元官网网址�
Players were able to set aside the legal distractions to continue on-field success.
B次元官网网址淭he additional hours and stress and outside pressures and discriminations we face, I mean sometimes you think why the hell was I born a female?B次元官网网址� Morgan said. B次元官网网址淎nd then sometimes you think how incredible is it to be able to fight for something that you actually believe in and stand alongside these women. B次元官网网址� There was something more than stepping on the field and wanting to be a starter or wanting to score goals or wanting to win or wanting to have the glory.B次元官网网址�
The $22 million will be split into individual amounts proposed by the players, subject to the District CourtB次元官网网址檚 approval.
Cone said the federationB次元官网网址檚 method of equalizing World Cup bonuses is yet to be determined. The federation has until now based bonuses on payments from FIFA, which , including $38 million to champion France, and , including $4 million to the champion U.S.
American men have been playing under the terms of a .
Rapinoe was critical of both Cordeiro and his predecessor, who headed the USSF from 2006-18. when the USSF National Council meets on March 5 to vote on a four-year term.
B次元官网网址淭he thing that Cindy did was acknowledge the wrongdoing and apologize for the wrongdoing,B次元官网网址� Rapinoe said. B次元官网网址淚t was well within SunilB次元官网网址檚 ability to not discriminate and to pay us fairly and equally. It was well within CarlosB次元官网网址� ability to do that, and they made choices not to. B次元官网网址� I think Cindy has shown a lot of strength in that, and I think the other two, frankly, just showed a ton of weakness and showed really their true colors in allowing this to happen for so long.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址擜nne M. Peterson And Ronald Blum, The Associated Press
