A lawsuit brought by female soccer players alleging unequal pay was settled by the US Soccer Federation. 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 is also applicable 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. The players alleged that the U.S. Soccer Federation discriminated against them and paid lip service to equality, while paying their male counterparts higher salaries. However, the federation responded to the complaint in a court filing in May, denying that the women were not being paid fairly.
After Carlos Cordeiro, USSF president, quit amid accusations of harassment and discrimination, the lawsuit was filed. He had made remarks about the skill level of male and female players, implying that male players have a higher level of skill. Cone, a former USWNT player, called Cordeiro's comments a "slap in the face."
The case was closed in May 2020
In May 2020, the United States Supreme Court ruled that San Francisco Unified School District had violated the Civil Rights Act of 64 by failing to offer special English language programs for English language learners. The case was remanded by the Supreme Court for the necessary relief. The district is currently considering whether to 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 complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claiming they were paid less than their male counterparts. The court dismissed the complaint in May 2020, but the players have appealed. Their lawsuit was inspired from a documentary called "When We Value Women", that shows the differences women face at work.
The United States has had a higher pay gap 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. The lawsuit stated that women's soccer players would be paid approximately 38% less per hour than their male counterparts. This lawsuit has opened a dialogue about gender discrimination in sport.
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 took sides as the lawsuit over women's hockey arose. They cited the inequalities of women's soccer's pay. The federation maintained that the women's contract had been collectively bargained and that they were paid the same amount as men. But public outrage forced the organization to abandon this position. Meanwhile, women's players in soccer used their immense popularity and massive social media followings as leverage in their lawsuit.