UltraViolet Slams U.S. Soccer Federation for “PR Stunt” Publicizing Equal Pay to Women’s National Team
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, September 17, 2021
CONTACT: Anna Zuccaro | anna@unbendablemedia.com
UltraViolet Slams U.S. Soccer Federation for “PR Stunt” Publicizing Equal Pay to Women’s National Team
In support of US Women’s National Soccer Team, women’s group joins players in slamming equal contract offer as a “PR Stunt”
Yesterday, the United States Soccer Federation announced an ‘identical contract offer’ to the men’s and women’s teams. According to reports, the offer does not accurately describe and will not truly establish equal pay due to factors such as bonuses, World Cup prize money and current FIFA regulations.
The news comes amid an ongoing fight by players on the U.S. women’s national team for equal pay.
In response, Bridget Todd, communications director of UltraViolet, a leading national women’s organization, issued the following statement:
“Simply put, the US Soccer Federation’s announcement of equal pay to the women’s national team is a self-aggrandizing and misleading PR stunt.
“After more than six years of the women’s national team fighting on the field and in court for equal pay, yesterday’s news feels more like the US Soccer federation taking a tone deaf victory lap. Contrary to the Federation’s suggestions, an ‘identical contract’ does not level the playing field, especially if FIFA continues rewarding different amounts of prize money to men and women.
“The US women’s national team has four World Cup championships and four Olympic gold medals. They’ve brought popularity to the sport nationwide. It’s disgraceful and embarrassing that accomplishing the bare minimum is considered progress. To suggest otherwise here is an insult to the women’s national team.”
In 2015, Ultraviolet pressured FIFA to close the pay gap after the 2015 Women’s World Cup champions netted only $2 million for their win, while the winners of the 2014 men’s World Cup netted $35 million. In contrast, the US men’s team was awarded a whopping $8 million prize after losing in the Round of 16 in the 2014 World Cup. As part of the effort, more than 72,000 UltraViolet members signed onto a petition urging FIFA demanding equal pay for the US Women’s National soccer team.
VIEW THE PETITION HERE: http://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/fifa_women/
In 2019, UltraViolet targeted US Soccer demanding they enact an equal pay policy for men and women. Not long after, UltraViolet and members organized a petition delivery at US Soccer headquarters in Chicago, Illinois.
VIEW THE PETITION HERE: https://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/us_soccer_equal_pay/
Earlier this year, UltraViolet resurfaced a TV ad from the 2016 Olympics calling for the United States women’s soccer team to receive equal pay:
VIEW THE AD HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNRyHbbaeRM&feature=youtu.be
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