US Soccer Federation Offers Women Same Pay as Men for Matches It Controls
Players on the U.S. women's national team are seeking more than $66 million in damages as part of their gender discrimination lawsuit against the USSF, which is scheduled for a trial starting May 5 at U.S. District Court in Los Angeles
By Ronald Blum ••
In this Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016, file photo, United States' Morgan Brian, second right, celebrates with her teammates after Alex Morgan score her side's 2nd goal against New Zealand during a women's Olympic football tournament match at the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, United States won 2-0.
The U.S. Soccer Federation says it has offered the women's national team equal pay to male counterparts for matches under USSF control but maintains the women want bonuses for tournaments such as the World Cup to match those of the men.
The women disputed the USSF account, saying the federation proposed to match rates the men had under their labor deal that expired in December 2018 and the USSF offer was for only for a portion of the women under contract.
"Since extending this offer, we have made multiple attempts to meet with the WNT to discuss these new options," USSF President Carlos Corderio wrote Saturday night in a letter to federation friends and supporters. "So far, they have repeatedly declined our invitation to meet on the premise that our proposal does not include U.S. Soccer agreeing to make up the difference in future prize money awarded by FIFA for the Men's and Women's World Cups."
The 2019 World Cup champions returned to the U.S. on Monday after beating the Netherlands 2-0 in the World Cup Final Sunday.
Players on the U.S. women's national team are seeking more than $66 million in damages as part of their gender discrimination lawsuit against the USSF, which is scheduled for a trial starting May 5 at U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.
Cordeiro's letter was released a day before the American women play Spain in a pre-Olympic prep event called the SheBelieves Cup.
“The USSF letter is riddled with falsehoods and issued on the eve of the SheBelieves game, which demonstrates that it is more important to USSF to diminish the women’s team than it is to support them on the field," players spokeswoman Molly Levinson said in a statement. “USSF did not and has never offered equal pay to the women players.”
FIFA awarded $400 million in prize money for the 2018 men's World Cup, including $38 million to champion France, and $30 million for last year's Women's World Cup, including $4 million to the U.S. after the Americans won their second straight title. FIFA has increased the total to $440 million for the 2022 men's World Cup and FIFA President Gianni Infantino has proposed FIFA double the women's prize money to $60 million for 2023.
FIFA pays bonuses to national federations, which each makes its own deal with its players.
Cordeiro said the USSF also had a responsibility to invest in youth national teams and other programs, such as player, coach and referee development.
AP
The U.S. women's soccer team, Megan Rapinoe center, celebrates at City Hall after a ticker tape parade, Wednesday, July 10, 2019, in New York. The U.S. national team beat the Netherlands 2-0 to capture a record fourth Women's World Cup title. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
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The U.S. women's soccer team, Megan Rapinoe center, celebrates at City Hall after a ticker tape parade, Wednesday, July 10, 2019, in New York. The U.S. national team beat the Netherlands 2-0 to capture a record fourth Women's World Cup title.
Craig Ruttle/AP
Members of the U.S. women's soccer team, including Megan Rapinoe, rear left, and Alex Morgan, right foreground, stand on a float before being honored with a ticker tape parade along the Canyon of Heroes in New York, Wednesday, July 10, 2019.
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A general view of a float on Broadway during a ticker tape parade along the Canyon of Heroes honoring the U.S. national women's soccer team, Wednesday, July 10, 2019, in New York.
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People cheer as members of the US Women's National Soccer Team travel down the "Canyon of Heroes" in a ticker tape parade on July 10, 2019 in New York City.
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New York Governor Andrew Cuomo attends The U.S. Women's National Soccer Team Victory Parade and City Hall Ceremony on July 10, 2019 in New York City.
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United States defender Ali Krieger waves to fans on a float while being honored with a ticker tape parade along the Canyon of Heroes, Wednesday, July 10, 2019, in New York.
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Alex Morgan, Ali Krieger and Megan Rapinoe during The U.S. Women's National Soccer Team Victory Parade and City Hall Ceremony on July 10, 2019 in New York City.
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A Fan looks on during the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team Victory Parade and City Hall Ceremony on July 10, 2019 in New York City.
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United States goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, right, takes a photo of the crowd while United States defender Becky Sauerbrunn looks out on a float while being honored with a ticker tape parade along the Canyon of Heroes, Wednesday, July 10, 2019, in New York.
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The U.S. Women's National Soccer Team Victory Parade and City Hall Ceremony on July 10, 2019 in New York City.
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Alex Morgan, and Allie Long celebrate during the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team Victory Parade and City Hall Ceremony on July 10, 2019 in New York City.
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The U.S. Women's National Soccer Team Victory Parade and City Hall Ceremony on July 10, 2019 in New York City.
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Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, and Allie Long celebrate during the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team Victory Parade and City Hall Ceremony on July 10, 2019 in New York City.
Craig Ruttle/AP
Fans celebrates as members of the the U.S. women's soccer team pass by during a ticker tape parade along the Canyon of Heroes, Wednesday, July 10, 2019, in New York.
Richard Drew/AP
A float with members of the U.S. women's soccer team and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, rear, makes its way up Broadway in a ticker tape parade along the Canyon of Heroes, Wednesday, July 10, 2019, in New York.
"There is indeed a significant difference in World Cup prize money awarded by FIFA to the men's and women's championship teams," Cordeiro wrote. "However, it is not reasonable or fiscally sound for U.S. Soccer to make up the gap. It would seriously impair our ability to support our mission and invest in these other critical developmental areas."
Levison criticized the USSF for asking that talks be confidential, then issuing a statement with its view of talks.
“There is no compromising on equal pay,” she said. "Equal is equal.”
The USSF repeatedly has pointed out women's national team players have benefits the men do not, including guaranteed annual salaries, medical and dental insurance, child-care assistance, and pregnancy and parental leave.
