US Soccer Federation settled the lawsuit brought forward by women's soccer players who claimed they were being paid inequitably. Players claimed that this pay gap was due to gender discrimination. The Equal Pay Act stipulates equal pay for people with the same skill and experience. This law also applies to female soccer players.
Women's soccer team filed lawsuit against U.S. Soccer Federation
The U.S. Women's National Team filed an action against the U.S. Soccer Federation, three years ago, over pay inequalities. In the lawsuit, players claimed that the organization discriminated and gave lip service to equality but paid more to their male counterparts. In May, however, the federation filed a response to the lawsuit in court. It denied that the women were not getting fair pay.
The lawsuit was filed after Carlos Cordeiro, the USSF president, resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment and gender discrimination. He had made comments regarding the skill level of male players and female players. This implied that male players have higher levels of skill. Cordeiro's comments were "slap in their faces," Cone, a former USWNT participant, said.
Case was dismissed in May 2020
In May 2020, The United States Supreme Court ruled San Francisco Unified School district had violated Civil Rights Act of 1965 by failing English language instruction to English learners. For the right relief, the case was remanded. The district is currently considering whether it will appeal the decision.
Players claim pay gap is due to gender discrimination
United States women's football players claim that their pay gaps are due to gender discrimination. They filed a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that their pay was less than that of their male counterparts. The court dismissed their complaint in May 2020. But the players appealed. Their lawsuit was inspired from a documentary called "When We Value Women", that shows the differences women face at work.
The United States' pay gap has increased significantly since 1999. The United States soccer federation was sued by 28 female soccer players in March 2019. They claim that the pay gap is caused by gender discrimination. The lawsuit claims that the female players would be paid 38% less than their male counterparts. This lawsuit has set off a new debate about gender discrimination within sports.
Settlement with USSF
According to a recent U.S. Soccer Federation announcement, a lawsuit brought by 28 women from the U.S. women’s soccer team was settled. The suit, which was filed by 28 members of the U.S. women's soccer team, titled "Settlement with USSF in women's soccer lawsuit," alleged institutionalized discrimination on behalf of the USSF. It also focused on equal pay as well as working conditions.
As the women's soccer lawsuit unfolded, the American public took sides, citing the pay inequality in women's soccer. While the federation argued that the women's contract was collectively bargained and that their salaries were the same as those for men, public outrage forced it to abandon that position. Meanwhile, women's football players used their fame and large social media followings to sue.