Canada Soccer | Practices are canceled due to salary negotiations

(Vancouver) Two scheduled Canadian men’s soccer practices have been canceled due to salary negotiations.

Maple Leaf fitness coaches placed the gear at the Vancouver Whitecaps practice facility on Friday afternoon, but then picked it all up and left the field minutes before the scheduled practice time.

Saturday’s scheduled training also did not take place.

“Canada Soccer is currently in discussions with national team players regarding fair and equitable monetary compensation ahead of the FIFA World Cup,” the association said in a statement on Saturday. evening.

The Canadian outfit are in Vancouver for a friendly against Panama on Sunday and for a Concacaf Nations League tie against Curacao on Thursday.

According to the TSN network, the players refused to take part in training due to contract negotiations which include, in part, how much the athletes will receive to participate in the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.

“I think what the players are asking for is respectable,” midfielder Jonathan Osorio told The Canadian Press late last month. “We don’t want to be treated differently from the teams we compare ourselves to. We just want to be respected and get a fair share. »

Association President Nick Bontis and Acting General Secretary are scheduled to land in Vancouver on Saturday afternoon. A Canada Soccer spokesperson said their visit was scheduled before Friday.

Men’s head coach John Herdman said every minute his group spends together is “crucial” as the team prepares to compete in international soccer’s biggest competition in November.

“Not a minute can be wasted at this time,” he said in a statement when the Canadian roster was announced last month.

Sunday’s clash will be Canada’s first of three games – ranked 38^e world level – during this international truce.

Canada was not originally scheduled to face Panama this week. The Canadian XI was due to cross swords with Iran on Sunday, but the meeting drew the wrath of many – including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who mentioned that “it’s not a very good idea” – and was cancelled.