11 February 2023 , 15:47
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The Canada Women's national team has announced it will go on strike over funding cuts and equal pay issues ahead of next week's SheBelieves Cup.
In a statement released on Friday, the team said they are outraged and deeply concerned by news of significant cuts to national team programs for 2023. With the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand only a matter of months away, they believe their preparation and chances of success have been compromised.
They wrote: "Despite our strong track record of success and history-making achievements for more than a decade, we continue to be told there is not enough money to adequately fund our program and youth teams.
"We have been patiently negotiating with Canada Soccer for more than a year. Now that our World Cup is approaching, the Women's national team 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."
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Manchester United star and Canada international Adriana Leon was among the players to take to social media on Friday, posting on Twitter : "At a loss for words for how Canada Soccer continues to conduct themselves and how they continue to get away with it. Six months away from the biggest stage and we are essentially being told that the federation is broke.
Adriana Leon of Canada in action during the a friendly match Australia (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)"We are Olympic Gold medalists, ranked #6 in the world, we sell out stadiums and we are still working backwards in 2023. With the current governance, I worry for future generations…Where is the money going???"
The damning statement from the team reveals, under the new budget reality, they have had to cut training camp days and reduce the number of players and staff invited. They've had to limit the youth team's activities and they've been told there will be no home game for the team before the World Cup this summer.
Team captain Christine Sinclair confirmed to Canadian broadcaster TSN they have decided to take job action. "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," she said.
"That's very hard to say as an athlete who wants to compete and represent Canada, but enough is enough."
Canada are currently sixth in the world rankings having won gold at the Olympics in 2021. They are due to face the United States in the SheBelieves Cup next week.
"We are at a pivotal moment in time for soccer in Canada," the men's team also said in a statement. "This is a once-in-a-generation, perhaps once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to grow the sport in Canada, and the current leadership of Canada Soccer is putting that opportunity at risk."