<\/p>\n
Noel Le Graet, president of France’s soccer federation (FFF), resigned on Tuesday, while Canada Soccer boss Nick Bontis stepped down a day earlier with those countries’ players embroiled in bitter disputes with their federations.<\/p>\n
Canada’s women’s team have vowed to boycott a pre-World Cup camp next month over equal pay and support, while Le Graet faced allegations of harassment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A government ministry audit concluded the 81-year-old did not have the “necessary legitimacy” for the position.<\/p>\n
French women’s coach Corinne Diacre is also under fire and her future may be decided on March 9 by an FFF select committee.<\/p>\n
Spain have been rocked by a revolt by 15 players, who withdrew from selection consideration in protest at coach Jorge Vilda.<\/p>\n
While the clashes could cast a cloud over the women’s global showcase, which begins on July 20 in New Zealand and Australia, players have vowed their fights are far from over.<\/p>\n
“Bontis’ departure MUST trigger sweeping change,” Amy Walsh, who played for Canada at the 2008 Olympics and earned 102 caps, posted on Twitter.<\/p>\n
“It’s not enough. Our athletes — as well as future generations of Canadian footballers — deserve so much better.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
Neither Bontis nor Le Graet, however, are leaving the game.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bontis was named CONCACAF Council vice-president (North America) on Saturday, while Le Graet – who has denied the accusations against him – has reportedly been pegged to lead FIFA’s Paris office.<\/p>\n
The turmoil in the two women’s programs is in stark contrast to their success on the pitch.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Canada – who face the Matildas in what is set to be their World Cup group’s defining match on July 31 – are the reigning Olympic women’s champions, while France topped their group in qualifying.<\/p>\n
And while the governance battles rage on, female footballers have forged strong bonds – regardless of what country’s colours they wear.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Canada played at the recent SheBelieves Cup under protest, they found they had allies around the world.<\/p>\n
The USA, who settled an equal-pay lawsuit with their federation a year ago, and Japan wore purple tape on their wrists at the tournament in solidarity.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Although we are now on the other side of this fight … our counterparts in Canada and elsewhere are experiencing the same pervasive misogyny and unequal treatment that we faced,” the US women said in a statement.<\/p>\n
England wore purple wristbands at the recent Arnold Clark Cup, to “display their support (for) the Canadian WNT players and for gender equality”, the team said in a tweet.<\/p>\n
Canada’s call for equality goes beyond equal pay.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Forward Janine Beckie, who was in Qatar for last year’s men’s World Cup as part of Canada’s broadcast crew, saw the “disgusting” discrepancy between the two programs.<\/p>\n
She cited as an example that the Canadian men’s team staff was twice the size of the women’s.<\/p>\n
“We’ve been fighting blindly, not knowing what our federation was capable of in terms of support, and then we were all witnesses to what our men’s team received,” captain Christine Sinclair said.<\/p>\n
France’s captain Wendie Renard said last week she would not play at the World Cup as long as Diacre is in charge.<\/p>\n
Her teammates Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Kadidiatou Diani have also said they were taking a step back from the national team.<\/p>\n
Spain’s 15 players declared themselves unavailable, saying in a statement playing “significantly” affected their “emotional state”.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n