Canadian Football Federation President Nick Bontis announced his resignation Monday, February 27, acknowledging the need for a ” change “in the context of a crisis with the women’s team which denounces the inequalities between women and men as well as the lack of funding.
“Although I have been one of the biggest supporters of an egalitarian system in the environment linked to performance in competitions, for our women’s national team, I will unfortunately no longer be leading the federation when that happens”explained Nick Bontis, in a press release.
Statement from Canada Soccer President
“I recognize that the current context requires a change” he added, specifying that his resignation is effective immediately.
“Canada Soccer (the federation) and our national team programs are on their way to signing a historic collective agreement”he said without giving details, promising a “flagship agreement that will distinguish” Canada “of virtually all other member associations of FIFA”.
Earlier Monday, the 13 provincial and territorial federations had sent a letter calling on Mr. Bontis to step down, according to the sports television channel TSN.
A strike in early February
At the beginning of February, the women’s team had led a one-day strike to denounce gender inequalities and the lack of funding, an approach supported by the men’s team.
The movement had been stopped due to the threat of legal action against her by the federation, and the reigning Olympic champions then played the SheBelieves Cup in Florida, a friendly preparatory tournament for the Women’s World Cup this summer.
According to the emblematic captain of the team, Christine Sinclair, in 2021 the Federation granted more than 11 million Canadian dollars (just over 7 million euros) to the men’s team, against approximately 5 million Canadian dollars to the women’s team, while the previous year, the expenses devoted by the federation were almost identical: a little more than 3 million dollars for the men, and 2.8 million for the women.
Last year, the Americans, double reigning world champions, reached an agreement with their federation to establish equal pay with the men’s team.