Canada Women's national team on strike over funding cuts
By Ali Rampling
The Canada Women's national team have announced that they are going on strike due to 'significant' budget cuts made just five months out from the 2023 World Cup.
The Canadian Soccer Players' Association released a statement on Friday detailing the cuts made to their programme, and captain Christine Sinclair later confirmed that the players will not participate in any national team activity until a resolution is reached.
This includes not taking part in the 2023 SheBelieves Cup, which is scheduled to begin on 16 February.
"We have been patiently negotiating with Canada Soccer for more than a year," the statement read. "Now that our World Cup is approaching, the Women's National Team players are being told to prepare to perform at a world-class level without the same level of support that was received by the Men's National Team in 2022, and with significant cuts to our program - to simply make do with less.
"This is an unacceptable burden to put on the shoulders of our players, especially in the most crucial cycle for our team. We are left feeling frustrated and, once again, deeply disrespected by Canada Soccer."
The funding decrease has resulted in Canada being forced to cut the length and number of international camps and reduce the number of players and staff involved. Youth team activity has also been limited, and the team have been informed that Canada will not host the traditional home sendoff game prior to the World Cup.
"As a team we have decided to take job action," Sinclair told broadcaster TSN. "From this moment on we will not be participating in any [Canada Soccer] activities until this is resolved - whether that's training, whether that's games."
The statement has been supported by the men's national team.
"This is the men and women's team together taking action against a federation which has mistreated us for far too long, and we have been far too nice for far too long," added forward Janine Beckie.
In a statement released by Canada Soccer, the governing body explained that they would be meeting the national team in Orlando on Saturday to continue discussions.
"Canada Soccer has a proven track record of supporting women's soccer," the statement read. "Pay equity is for our women's national team is at the core of our ongoing player negotiations. Canada Soccer will not agree to any deal without it."
Canada are the reigning Olympic champions and are currently sixth in the Fifa world rankings.
"We are tired - tired of constantly having to fight for fair and equal treatment, and for a program that will give us a chance to achieve what we know this team is capable of achieving for Canada," the Canadian Soccer Players' Association statement continued.
"This lack of support threatens to reverse the progress we've made as a soccer nation and to send us back to obscurity."