USSF's filing argued that men's players carry more responsibility within U.S. Soccer than womenGETTY IMAGES
The U.S. Soccer Federation "faced a public backlash" from sponsors Coca-Cola, Visa and Deloitte after it "asserted in a legal filing this week that a 'higher level of skill' and 'more responsibility' are required of members of the men’s national team than the women’s team," according to Rachel Bachman of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. The USSF made those arguments in its opposition to the USWNT's "motion for a partial summary judgment" in the the pay-discrimination lawsuit brought by the women's team. The USSF's filing "argued that since the men’s team competes more often in tournaments offering more prize money, and since men’s games outside the Women’s World Cup tend to have higher TV ratings, 'the job of MNT player carries more responsibility within U.S. Soccer than the job of WNT player, from an EPA standpoint.'" A Coca-Cola spokesperson said, "We are extremely disappointed with the unacceptable and offensive comments made by US Soccer. We have asked to meet with them immediately to express our concerns." A Visa spokesperson said that the USSF's position, as it has been reported, is "one which we do not share," adding that Visa "plans to meet with the Federation to discuss this matter.” A Deloitte spokesperson said the company is "deeply offended by the views expressed by the USSF" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 3/12).
DAMAGE CONTROL: USSF President Carlos Cordeiro in a statement released in the closing minutes of yesterday's win for the USWNT against Japan in the SheBelieves Cup "apologized for language used" in the legal filings. Cordeiro said that the federation would "add new legal counsel in the firm of Latham and Watkins to 'join and guide our legal strategy going forward.'" ESPN.com's Graham Hays noted the statement "did not address in what capacity the firm of Seyfarth Shaw, whose name appears on Monday's filings, would remain involved in the proceedings." USWNT players "wore their warm-up shirts inside out, hiding the U.S. Soccer crest, in protest" before yesterday's match. After the match, USWNT F Megan Rapinoe said, "We have sort of felt that those are some of the undercurrent feelings that they've had for a long time, but to see that as the argument -- sort of blatant misogyny and sexism as the argument against us is really disappointing" (ESPN.com, 3/11). USWNT F Carli Lloyd the team decided as a group to wear the shirts inside out, and "everybody was on board with it." She added, "It just was a powerful message, without having to really send a message. I’m really proud of this group because this is not an easy thing" (AP, 3/12).
UNFORGIVABLE: SI.com's Grant Wahl writes Cordeiro "should resign immediately." Wahl: "There is no other conclusion that can be reached after the federation showed shockingly poor judgment approving official language from U.S. Soccer claiming that the job of a men’s national team player requires a higher level of skill and ability than the job of a women’s national team player." The language of Twitter trolls "should never be the language of U.S. Soccer, and Cordeiro should leave his post now since he does not appear to understand that." Cordeiro's apology "rings hollow since it only came after the federation had received stinging rebukes" from sponsors (SI.com, 3/12).
