Canada’s men’s soccer team is back in training, but players say there’s still work to be done to secure a new deal with soccer’s national governing body.
A friendly match against Panama was canceled on Sunday after the Canadian athletes refused to play, citing “unnecessarily protracted” negotiations over a new contract. Practice sessions on Friday and Saturday were also canceled due to the contract dispute.
The players met with senior officials from Canada Soccer on Sunday evening, and the team resumed training at the Vancouver Whitecaps facilities on Monday. The squad also train on Tuesday, before kicking off the CONCACAF Nations League game against Curacao in Vancouver on Thursday. ” [Nous] We will continue the negotiation process, but questions remain unanswered, and action is yet to be taken,” the players said in a statement.
Compensation seems to be a sticking point in the negotiations between the parties.
In a statement on Sunday, the players said they were seeking compensation including 40% of the purse and a “full package for friends and family” ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Canada, ranked 38e in the world, secured a place in the tournament in March. It is the first time the country will play a World Cup since 1986.
Canada Soccer president Nick Bontis told reporters on Sunday that the organization is offering players 30 per cent of World Cup earnings.
He said the players’ proposal was not financially viable. “I cannot accept an offer that would put our organization in an untenable financial position,” said Bontis.
The players also demand equitable remuneration between the men’s and women’s teams, as well as the establishment of a national women’s league, in particular.
Last month, the United States Soccer Federation signed collective agreements that provide equal pay for its men’s and women’s national teams.
FIFA President Gianni Infantio has offered to double the purse to 60 million for the Women’s World Cup next year. The number of countries in the running will increase from 24 to 32.