Canada and Nigeria meet on Friday on the first day of the World Cup. For its part, La Roja is entering the competition against Costa Rica.
A climate far from peaceful. At the start of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, several teams came into conflict with their federation. In France, Wendie Renard asked in March for a change in a “system” that she could no longer condone. The demands of players around the world, relating both to the management of bonuses and to the infrastructures made available, have added up. From Spain to Jamaica via Nigeria, South Africa, England and Canada, review of the workforce of eventful preparations.
Canada: an economic crisis and an abortive strike
At the beginning of 2023, the Canadian women stood up to their federation because the latter announced the need to make significant budget cuts. “Revolted” And “very worried”supported by their male counterparts, the Olympic champions threatened to go on strike in February, just before the SheBelievesCup friendly tournament.
Before quickly stopping their action, assuring by a press release that they had been threatened with legal action against them to force them to return to the field. The situation was not resolved, and at the end of June, the federation’s acting general secretary, Jason de Vos, revealed in an interview with TSN that the proceeding was close to bankruptcy. Despite the possibility of organizing four friendlies at the end of the year for its women’s team, Canada Soccer gave it up for lack of resources.
Nigeria: between payment delays and interference
In Nigeria, it was the coach who directly castigated his management. On July 6, Randy Waldrum, head of the Super Falcons since 2020, revealed in an interview for the Sounding off on Soccer podcast that the federation had many delays in the payment of salaries and bonuses, for him and certain players.
The coach also denounced interference in the choice of players selected for the World Cup. “They wanted me to choose a sitter who I have never seen and who has never participated in our gatherings”he explained. Corridor noises even suggested a risk of boycott on the part of the team for their entry into the running against Canada. Rumors swept away by captain Onome Ebi in a video shared by the federation.
Spain: 15 players withdraw from the selection
The revolt within the Spanish team broke out in the fall of 2022, when 15 players decided to withdraw from the selection to demand changes in the material, coaching and management conditions in the national team. In their press release, the players denounced “a situation which affects [leur] personal, emotional, [leur] performance, and therefore the results of the selection.”
The Spanish federation, had responded to the players, qualifying their behavior as far from being “copy” And “outside the values of football and sport”. The authority had assured that it would reinstate the players only if they “acknowledged their mistake” And “ask forgiveness”.
To compete in the World Cup in New Zealand, 12 of the 15 concerned were not recalled by the divisive coach Jorge Vilda. Among them are headliners Mapi Leon and Patri Guijarro, recent Champions League winners with Barcelona.
England: Lionesses claim bonuses
“With our first match on the horizon, we have decided to put discussions on hold, with the firm intention of revisiting them after the tournament. We feel a collective responsibility to take the game forward.” It is through this press release, published on Tuesday via the Instagram account of their captain Millie Bright, that the English have paused their negotiations with the English federation to try to obtain the performance bonuses they are claiming.
Concretely, the FA, accustomed to paying a sum to the players according to the round reached at each major competition, considered that it was no longer necessary to do so as FIFA is awarding bonuses this year. This does not pass with the Lionesses, who will therefore return to the charge to receive this money separate from that of FIFA.
Jamaica: “extreme disorganization” denounced
A month before the start of the World Cup, Jamaicans shared an open letter on their social networks to express their “great disappointment” towards their federation. Reproaching support “below standards”players have revealed that they experience delays in contractually guaranteed payments, a lack of access to “correct resources” and criticized the cancellation of friendlies due to a “extreme disorganization”. According to them, “immediate and systematic changes” are necessary. The situation is such that to cover the costs of the team’s base camp in Australia, crowdfunding campaigns have been launched by the mother of one of the players, and by the Reggae Girlz foundation.
South Africa: missed warm-up match amid bonus tensions
The African champions have also seen their preparation shaken by a conflict over the payment of bonuses. The South Africans boycotted their last friendly, in early July, against Botswana after being awarded contracts which they said did not include the $30,000 individual prize money promised by FIFA.
The federation thus summoned a B team at the last minute with elements from lower leagues, including a 13-year-old player. National coach Desiree Ellis then admitted to Reuters that there were tensions, calling for “go forward”. On July 5, the federation announced that the conflict was resolved, after the intervention of the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Zizi Kodwa, and a foundation which agreed to make a donation and cover the costs.