The Canadian women’s soccer team has "agreed to return to training and play” in the SheBelieves Cup after “facing the threat of legal action from Canada Soccer.” Though the action was “short lived,” the labor dispute with the governing body is “far from over.” The possibility of “ill will has no doubt multiplied” after emergency talks Saturday “forced them back onto the pitch.” The women’s soccer team in a statement said that Canada Soccer "told them it considered their job action was an unlawful strike and would trigger legal action.” Members of the women’s team maintain that Canada Soccer’s "cuts to the national team programs are ‘unacceptable’” and they are “demanding the same backing in preparing for this summer’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand that the men received last year before Qatar.” The women’s team also wants Canada Soccer to "open its books” (CP, 2/11).
Canada Soccer named as its new COO Mathieu Chamberland, who has spent the last five years as the GM of Soccer Quebec. Canada Soccer has "not had a COO since 2007-08” when John Billingsley held the title in addition to general secretary. Canada Soccer also is "looking for" a Chief Commercial Officer. Earlier this month, the organization "let go" of CMO Sandra Gage, who had been with the organization since 2009 (CP, 2/10).
