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sports Diaranson 23 Februari 2022

American women players settle suit vs US Soccer for $24M

(AP) - U.S. women soccer fans to chant “Equal Pay!”
players reached a land- when they won their sec-
mark agreement with the ond straight title in France
sport’s American govern- in 2019. And it was a success
ing body to end a six-year for USSF President Cindy
legal battle over equal pay, Parlow Cone, a former player
a deal in which they are who became head of the fed-
promised $24 million plus eration in March 2020.
bonuses that match those
of the men. Cone replaced Carlos Cor-
deiro, who quit after the fed-
The U.S. Soccer Federation eration made a legal filing
and the women announced that claimed women had less
a deal Tuesday that will have physical ability and responsi-
players split $22 million, bility than male counterparts.
about one-third of what they
had sought in damages. The “This is just one step towards
USSF also agreed to estab- rebuilding the relationship
lish a fund with $2 million with the women’s team. I
to benefit the players in their think this is a great accom-
post-soccer careers and char- plishment and I’m excited
itable efforts aimed at grow- about the future and working
ing the sport for women. together with them,” Cone
said. “Now we can shift the December 2020, dealing with Cup bonuses is yet to be de-
The USSF committed to focus to other things, most issues such as charter flights, “The additional hours and termined. The federation has
providing an equal rate of pay importantly, growing the accommodations and playing stress and outside pressures until now based bonuses on
for the women’s and men’s game at all levels and increas- surfaces. They were sched- and discriminations we face, payments from FIFA, which
national teams — including ing opportunities for girls uled to argue on March 7 I mean sometimes you think earmarked $400 million for
World Cup bonuses — sub- and women.” before the 9th U.S. Circuit why the hell was I born a fe- the 2018 men’s tournament,
ject to collective bargaining Court of Appeals in an at- male?” Morgan said. “And including $38 million to
agreements with the unions U.S. women have won four tempt to reinstate the equal then sometimes you think champion France, and $30
that separately represent the World Cups since the pro- pay portion thrown out by a how incredible is it to be million for the 2019 wom-
women and men. gram’s start in 1985, while U.S. District Court. able to fight for something en’s tournament, including
the men haven’t reached a that you actually believe in $4 million to the champion
“For our generation, knowing semifinal since 1930. “The settlement announced and stand alongside these U.S.
that we’re going to leave the today is an important step in women. ... There was some-
game in an exponentially bet- Five American stars led by righting the many wrongs of thing more than stepping on American men have been
ter place than when we found Alex Morgan and Rapinoe the past,” the union for the the field and wanting to be playing under the terms of a
it is everything,” 36-year-old began the challenge with women’s team said in a state- a starter or wanting to score CBA that expired in Decem-
midfielder Megan Rapinoe a complaint to the federal ment. goals or wanting to win or ber 2018.
said during a telephone in- Equal Employment Oppor- wanting to have the glory.”
terview with The Associated tunity Commission in April While a labor contract re- Rapinoe was critical of both
Press. “That’s what it’s all 2016. Women sued three mains to be reached and rati- The $22 million will be split Cordeiro and his predeces-
about because, to be honest, years later, seeking damages fied to replace the deal that into individual amounts pro- sor, Sunil Gulati, who head-
there is no justice in all of this under the federal Equal Pay expires March 31, the settle- posed by the players, subject ed the USSF from 2006-18.
if we don’t make sure it never Act and Title VII of the Civil ment was an enormous step. to the District Court’s ap- Cordeiro is seeking to regain
happens again.” Rights Act. proval. the job from Cone when
Players were able to set aside the USSF National Council
The settlement was a victory The sides settled the work- the legal distractions to con- Cone said the federation’s meets on March 5 to vote on
for the players, who sparked ing conditions portion in tinue on-field success. method of equalizing World a four-year term.

MLB makes slight moves as threat to openers intensifies

(AP) — Baseball negotiations re- MLB canceled spring training games spur competition — and spending.
sumed with new intensity Mon- MLB increased its offer of a bonus from Feb. 26 through March 4 and
day in an effort to salvage open- pool for pre-arbitration players by has told the union a deal is needed by Teams have told the union they will
ing day, and owners made a pair $5 million to $20 million that would Feb. 28 for opening day to come off not increase salary arbitration eligi-
of slight moves toward locked- go to 30 top players, a fraction of as scheduled. Players have not said bility, will not decrease revenue shar-
out players but put off big-ticket the $115 million for 150 players the whether they agree that is a dead- ing and will not add new methods for
bargaining issues until later. union has asked for. line, and past practice indicates a deal players to accrue service time, which
could be reached in early March that players said are needed to prevent
With a week or perhaps a little more Clubs also increased their proposal would allow sufficient training time. teams from holding players back to
time left to preserve openers on for a lottery for the amateur draft delay free agency.
March 31, union head Tony Clark from the top three picks to the top The session was just the seventh on
attended negotiations for the first four. Players have asked for the top core economics during the lockout, The site of negotiations is about
time since since the work stoppage eight. and talks are to continue at 1 p.m. 3 miles from the home of Scher-
began on Dec. 2. Tuesday, when the second-longest zer, among the eight players on the
Teams also dropped their proposal stoppage in baseball history will be union’s executive subcommittee.
New York Mets stars Max Scherzer to have the flexibility to decrease do- in its 83rd day. Until now the sides Lindor and the Astros’ Jason Cas-
and Francisco Lindor were among 10 mestic minor league contracts along have bargained on consecutive days tro also attended from the executive
players who were at a pair of sessions with a plan to limit optional assign- just once during the lockout. subcommittee
during a five-hour span. In contrast ments to five per player each sea-
to the union leaders Tom Glavine son. The union opposed the minor Players are angry that payrolls last Clark and the players conferred with
and David Cone during the 1994-95 league proposal and asked for a limit year dropped to their lowest lev- Bruce Meyer, the union’s chief ne-
strike, none of these players spoke of four options. el since 2015, and they want new gotiator, in the right field parking lot
publicly. mechanisms in the agreement to before entering the ballpark.