Captain Christine Sinclair says the ongoing labor dispute with Canada Soccer has left her and the other team representatives “exhausted and exhausted” as they prepare to face the United States in the of the SheBelieves Cup opener on Thursday.
At a time when the on-pitch clash with their nemesis should be front and center, women say they must fight for equality and transparency off the pitch.
“As a team, we’re at our wit’s end,” Sinclair told reporters Tuesday during a video conference call from Florida. “This is perhaps the most important fight we have to fight as national team players and we are determined to win it. »
Striker Janine Beckie added: “It’s quite disgusting to have to ask to be treated as an equal. It’s a fight that women around the world have to take part in every day, but frankly, we’ve had enough of it. And that’s something that doesn’t even disappoint me anymore. I’m just angry. Because it’s time, it’s 2023.
“We won the damn Olympics and we’re about to go to the World Cup with a team that could win. So we expect to be prepared in the best possible way to go and win a World Cup. »
The Americans, who have fought this fight before, have expressed their support for the Canadian team, according to Sinclair and Beckie.
The Maple Leaf players, ranked sixth in the world, are upset that their grievances have not been addressed by Canada Soccer officials. They announced Friday evening that they would not participate in the four-team tournament. But they reluctantly returned when Canada Soccer threatened to sue them on Saturday.
The women say they will play the SheBelieves Cup in protest but will boycott the next international competition unless progress is made. Sinclair said the team is “still discussing any planned on-field protests” during Thursday’s game.
“I’m sure there will be something,” she said.
The Canadians say they want the same kind of preparation for this summer’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand as the men got before the World Cup in Qatar last year. Both teams are also protesting cuts to their programs, as well as national youth teams, and want Canada Soccer to open its books.
“How is it that at a time when the men’s and women’s programs are historically at their peak and interest in soccer has never been greater, how come we have cuts budgets? asked veteran Sophie Schmidt. “That’s not to mention the budget cuts during a World Cup year. »
Sinclair said the players, who were not paid for their national team work in 2022, were not told the reasons for the cuts.