US Soccer Federation settled a lawsuit brought by women soccer players alleging that they were not paid equal wages. According to the players, the reason for the pay gap is gender discrimination. Equal Pay Act provides equal pay for persons of similar skill and experience. This law applies to female soccer players.
U.S. Soccer Federation filed a lawsuit against women's team soccer
Three years ago, U.S. Women's National Team sued the U.S. Soccer Federation for 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. However, the federation responded to the complaint in a court filing in May, denying that the women were not being paid fairly.
The suit was filed after Carlos Cordeiro (USSF president) resigned amid allegations that he had been subject to sexual harassment and discrimination. He made comments about the skill level between male and female players, implying a higher skill level for male players. Cordeiro's remarks were called a "slap on the face" by Cone.
In May 2020, the case was dismissed
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. The ruling remanded the case for appropriate relief. The district is considering appealing the decision.
Players claim gender discrimination causes the pay gap
United States women's soccer players claim their gender discrimination is the reason for their pay gap. They filed a complaint with Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging that they were paid less as men. In May 2020, the court dismissed the complaint. However, the players appealed. Their lawsuit was inspired and motivated by "When We Value Women", a documentary that shows the inequalities faced by women at work.
In the United States, the pay gap has increased since 1999. In March 2019, 28 female soccer players filed a lawsuit against United States Soccer Federation claiming that the gender discrimination is the reason for the pay gap. According to the lawsuit, players on the women’s soccer team would receive 38% less 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 claimed that the USSF institutionalized gender discrimination. It focused on equal work conditions and pay.
The American public took sides as the lawsuit over women's hockey arose. They cited the inequalities of women's soccer's pay. 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 football players used their fame and large social media followings to sue.