US Soccer Federation settled a lawsuit by women's players of soccer alleging they were paid differently. The players claimed that the pay gap was caused by gender discrimination. The Equal Pay Act stipulates equal pay for people with the same skill and experience. This law is also applicable to female soccer players.
U.S. Soccer Federation was sued by women's soccer team
The U.S. Women's National Team brought a lawsuit against U.S. Soccer Federation three years ago over disparities in pay. In the lawsuit, the players accused the organization of discrimination and paying lip service to equality while giving their male counterparts higher pay. In a May court file, the federation denied that women were not being paid equally.
The suit was filed after Carlos Cordeiro (USSF president) resigned amid allegations that he had been subject to sexual harassment and 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 dismissed in May 2020
In May 2020, the United States Supreme Court found that San Francisco Unified Schools District had violated Civil Rights Act 1964 by failing English language learning opportunities for English-speaking students. The case was remanded to the court for any appropriate relief. The district is currently considering whether to appeal the decision.
Players claim that the pay gap is caused by gender discrimination
Women's soccer players in the United States are claiming that their pay gap is due to gender discrimination. They have filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, claiming that they were paid less than their male counterparts. Although the court dismissed the case in May 2020 the players appealed. Their lawsuit was inspired by a documentary film, "When We Value Women," which shows the disparities women face in the workplace.
The United States has had a higher pay gap 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. According to the lawsuit, players on the women’s soccer team would receive 38% less than their male counterparts. This lawsuit has started a conversation about gender discrimination and 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 alleged that the USSF had institutionalized gender discrimination and was focused on equal pay for all workers.
The American public was divided as they cited inequalities in women’s soccer pay during the course of the women’s soccer lawsuit. The federation claimed that women's contracts were collectively bargained. They also claimed that their salaries were equal to men's, but public outrage forced it into abandoning that position. Meanwhile, women's soccer stars used their huge social media followings and popularity as weapons in their lawsuit.