US Women’s National Team’s Legal Action Against the US Soccer Federation

United States Women's National Team

In what could be a historic action by the United States women’s national team, they have begun legal action against the US Soccer Federation (USSF).

The discrimination lawsuit relates to equal pay and working conditions for the women’s and men’s soccer teams. The women’s side have been far more successful than their male counterparts, winning the Women’s World Cup three time while the men’s team’s best finish was a third place way back in 1930.

This isn’t the first time something like this has happened. Back in 2016 Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe, Becky Sauerbrunn and Hope Solo filed a wage-discrimination action against USSF with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

A new deal was agreed that brought an improved base pay and bigger bonuses for the U.S. Women’s team but it still did not guarantee parity with the men’s national team, even if they get the same per diems.

This action has been taken after dissatisfaction with the USSF failing to fully follow through with their promises.

The lawsuit, filed with the US District Court in Los Angeles, stated: “Despite the fact that these female and male players are called upon to perform the same job responsibilities on their teams and participate in international competitions for their single common employer, the USSF, the female players have been consistently paid less money than their male counterparts.

“This is true even though their performance has been superior to that of the male players, with the female players, in contrast to male players, becoming world champions.”

The USSF is yet to comment on the legal action.

Hopefully this move doesn’t cause too much of a distraction as they begin the defence of the Women’s World Cup this summer in France. The US have been paired with Thailand, Chile and Sweden in Group F.

We will be keenly watching how this action progresses and keeping our fingers crossed for a positive outcome for the girls and that other FIFA associated nations follow suit.

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