Canada鈥檚 World Cup warmup match against Panama was canceled Sunday when the men鈥檚 team refused to play because of a labor dispute with the nation鈥檚 governing body that includes a demand the women鈥檚 national team get equal match fees.
Players, preparing for the nation鈥檚 first men鈥檚 World Cup appearance since 1986, refused to train Friday and Saturday.
Players said they want 40% of World Cup prize money, a friends and family travel package and and 鈥渆quitable structure with our women鈥檚 national team that shares the same player match fees, percentage of prize money earned at our respective FIFA World Cups and the development of a women鈥檚 domestic league.鈥�
Unions for the U.S. men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 national teams announced agreements on May 18 calling for equal pay, including a pooling of World Cup prize money. The Canadian men said they want an equal percentage of prize money and equal match fees.
鈥淚n March we initiated contract discussions with Canada Soccer,鈥� the men鈥檚 national team said in a statement. 鈥淒ue to executives delaying the process and taking vacations, the negotiation process was unnecessarily prolonged. Canada Soccer waited until the evening of July 2 to present an archaic offer and the general secretary and president of the association only made themselves available for the first time to connect with players on June 4 at 4 p.m. For these reasons, we have reluctantly decided not to play our match today against Panama.鈥�
Richard Scott, a spokesman for the Canada Soccer Association, did not respond to an email seeking comment. The governing body said in a statement on Saturday night: 鈥淐anada Soccer are currently in discussions with their national team players pertaining to fair and equitable player compensation ahead of the FIFA World Cup period.鈥�
FIFA did not respond to a request for comment.
Canada鈥檚 women鈥檚 team is ranked sixth in the world and won the gold medal at last year鈥檚 Olympics.
鈥淚 think the players what we ask for is fair,鈥� midfielder Jonthan Osorio, a regular not on the current roster due to an injury, told The Canadian Press. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 want to be treated any more special than similar teams that we compare ourselves to. We just want to be respected and not taken advantage of and just given our fair share.鈥�
Osorio, 29, said flights and accommodations have improved since former women鈥檚 coach John Herdman became men鈥檚 coach in January 2018.
鈥淚t鈥檚 much different than it was before,鈥� Osorio said. 鈥淪aying that, there鈥檚 a lot that needs to happen from the federation. I think the players need to see more backing from the federation now and not only rely on John to get things done. I think those things will come with results.鈥�
Panama was a late replacement as Sunday鈥檚 opponent, which originally was Iran. Canada鈥檚 governing body dropped Iran following criticism by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Canada is scheduled to play Cura莽ao at Vancouver on Thursday and is at Honduras on June 13, both in the CONCACAF Nations League. No. 38 Canada opens the World Cup Group F in Qatar against second-ranked Belgium on Nov. 23, plays No. 16 Croatia four days later and No. 24 Morocco on Dec. 1.
READ ALSO: Canada men鈥檚 soccer training session scrapped amid compensation talks
___
The Associated Press
