At the beginning of February, the women’s team had led a day strike to denounce in particular the lack of funding. The thirteen provincial and territorial federations have sent a letter calling Nick Bontis to give up his functions.
MO12345lemonde with AFP
The president of the Canadian Football Federation, Nick Bontis, announced on Monday, February 27, his resignation, recognizing the need for a “change”, in the context of a crisis with the female team which denounces the inequalities between women and men as well as lack of funding.
“Although I have been one of the greatest supporters of an egalitarian system in the environment -related environment in competitions, for our national female team, I will unfortunately no longer direct the federation when it happens”, said Nick Bontis, in a press release.
Stament from Canada Soccer President
– Canadasocceren (@Canada soccer)
“I recognize that the current context requires a change,” he added, adding that its resignation is immediate.
“Canada Soccer (the Federation) and our national team programs are in the process of signing a historic collective agreement,” he said without giving details, promising a “flagship agreement that will distinguish” Canada “Of practically all other FIFA members’ associations”.
Earlier Monday, the 13 provincial and territorial federations had sent a letter calling Mr. Bontis to give up his duties, according to the sports television channel Tsn.
a strike in early February
At the beginning of February, the women’s team had led a day strike to denounce women-men’s inequalities and the lack of funding, an approach supported by the male team.
The movement had been stopped due to the threat of legal action against it by the Federation, and the reigning Olympic champions then played the Shebelieves Cup in Florida, a friendly female friendly tournament this summer.
According to the emblematic team captain, Christine Sinclair, in 2021, the Federation granted more than $ 11 million Canadian dollars (just over 7 million euros) to the men’s team, against around 5 million Canadian dollars to the women’s team, while the previous year, the expenses devoted by the Federation were almost identical: just over $ 3 million for men, and 2.8 million for women.
Last year, the Americans, double reigning world champions, reached an agreement with their federation, to establish equality of wages with the male team.