In the interim, the U.S. Soccer Federation agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by women soccer players. The suit was brought by players who claim that the league discriminates against women players. The settlement, contingent on the USWNT's players' union ratifying a new collective agreement, will stabilize women's soccer in America.
U.S. Soccer settles with women's soccer players
After their court case was dismissed, the USSF reached a settlement with female soccer players. The lawsuit was brought about by comments made by Carlos Cordeiro, the president of the USSF, about the differences in skill between men and women. Cordeiro stated that women have more skill than men, which was false. After the allegations were made public, Cordeiro quit his job.
The settlement is $22,000,000, and will go to 28 USWNT athletes. The $2 million balance will go to a women’s football charity. The settlement settles litigation filed against the USSF in 2019 on grounds of gender discrimination within the United States soccer association. The women's soccer team claimed that they were less well paid than men and had to play in more dangerous conditions.
The women's team has become just as popular as their male counterparts. They have combined 2.1million Instagram followers. Despite all the negative press surrounding U.S. Soccer Settlement, the women’s soccer team remains one the most loved sports in the United States.
Settlement contingent on ratification of new collective bargaining agreement by USWNT players association
The United States Soccer Federation (USWNT Players Association) reached a tentative settlement. It is contingent on the ratification and implementation of a new collective agreement. This settlement is a huge win for gender equality. Both parties have reached an agreement to extend the current CBA until March 31. At that point, the parties will seek final approval for the settlement.
New collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) between the U.S. Soccer Federation, the USWNT players' union and the U.S. Soccer Federation will guarantee equal pay and working conditions for both teams in December 2020. The settlement also makes the men's and women's teams pay according to performance, and both teams will be paid equally through pay-to-play systems.
A USWNT players association filed a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that the USWNT was unfairly treated. US Soccer, despite dismissing the complaint in March 2016, indicated that it was open to negotiations and announced in November that they had offered the same contracts to players as the men's soccer team. They reached an agreement that will ensure equal pay to players and better the game for women in the United States.
Impact of settlement on future of women's soccer
A federal judge dismissed many aspects in the lawsuit filed by USWNT soccer players against U.S.S. Soccer. The settlement won't have any impact on the future American women's soccer. However, it does indicate that the USWNT would be paid equal for World Cup wins and other competitive events. The USWNT's new collective bargaining agreement will have to be approved by the district court.
The players' collective bargaining agreement has been a win-win for women's soccer. It means that women's clubs will see a significant increase of base pay and better match bonuses. This could potentially double the income for some players. In addition to the increased salaries, the players will also now be able to exercise control over their licensing and marketing rights.
The settlement provides support for future generations. Settlements will enable female players to have the same travel benefits and benefits as male players. It will also help to restore trust between players and federations. This will be the first step towards the long-term goal, which is to improve the future of women’s soccer.