A lawsuit brought by female soccer players alleging unequal pay was settled by the US Soccer Federation. According to the players, the reason for the pay gap is gender discrimination. The Equal Pay Act requires equal pay for persons with similar skill and experience. This law also applies female soccer players.
Women's soccer team filed lawsuit against U.S. Soccer Federation
Three years ago, the U.S. Women's National Team filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation over pay disparities. The players filed a lawsuit against the U.S. soccer Federation accusing it of discrimination and giving lip service equality while offering higher wages to their male counterparts. In a May court filing, the Federation denied that women weren't being paid fair wages.
After Carlos Cordeiro, USSF President, resigned amid claims of sexual harassment, and gender discrimination, the lawsuit was brought. He had made comments regarding the skill level of male players and female players. This implied that male players have higher levels of skill. Cone, a former USWNT player, called Cordeiro's comments a "slap in the face."
The case was closed in May 2020
The United States Supreme Court ruled in May 2020 that the San Francisco Unified School District violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by failing to provide special English language programs to English language learners. The case was remanded by the Supreme Court for the necessary relief. The district is currently considering appealing against 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 complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claiming they were paid less than their male counterparts. Although the court dismissed the case in May 2020 the players appealed. Their lawsuit was inspired in part by the documentary film "When We Value Women", which highlights the gender disparities in the workplace.
The pay gap in the United States has grown since 1999. 28 women soccer players filed a lawsuit in March 2019 against the United States soccer Federation alleging that the pay disparity is caused by gender discrimination. The lawsuit stated that women's soccer players would be paid approximately 38% less per hour than their male counterparts. This lawsuit has triggered a new conversation on gender discrimination in sports.
Settlement with USSF
According to a U.S. Soccer Federation's recent announcement, a suit filed by 28 female players of the U.S. soccer team, titled “Settlement with USSF women's football lawsuit,” will be settled. The lawsuit alleged institutionalized gender discrimination on the part of the USSF, and focused on equal pay and working conditions.
The American public took sides as the lawsuit over women's hockey arose. They cited the inequalities of women's soccer's pay. 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 players in soccer used their immense popularity and massive social media followings as leverage in their lawsuit.