Washington (AFP)
American international players, in a statement posted on the US National Team Players Association website, support their female counterparts in their fight for equal pay, and question the integrity of the American Federation of football (US Soccer).
"The Federation continues to conduct a discriminatory policy towards women on salary issues and their working conditions," said this association, which has the value of a union of international players in its country.
The internationals demand that American footballers receive much more than what their federation has given them so far.
"For more than 20 years, the federation has resisted any concept of equal remuneration or basic economic equity for USWNT (US Women National Team) players and also refuses to include the same provisions as men regarding air travel, hotels, etc. This is systematic gender discrimination that should never have happened, "they add.
Twenty-eight players from the U.S. National Women's Team, world champion in France in 2019, have filed a class action against the discrimination policy of US Soccer, and a trial is scheduled to start in May.
What does women's football need in the coming months? "Money, money, money", answers the star of the American team Megan Rapinoe, world champion and emblematic spokesperson of her discipline.
And for years, Megan Rapinoe has been fighting for women footballers to have the same treatment as men.
The Association of Internationals also openly questions the integrity of its federation in its press release.
"They are trying to protect their monopoly, their sources of income, and continue to exploit the players of the American national team. It is time that that stops," they continue.
"Football is perhaps the most corrupt sport in the world. We do not want an American football federation that behaves like FIFA," he said in their virulent rant.
"For many years, the federation has benefited from the sale of tickets, sponsorship and merchandising, while paying the least possible players," continues the text, a real attack against US Soccer.
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