Canada Soccer 'threatens to SUE the Canadian Soccer Players' Association and players on strike at the SheBelieves Cup' after stars blasted governing body's failure to financially support the team
- It comes just one day after Canada's women's national team went on strike
- Canada Soccer was said to be having crunch talks with player reps Saturday
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Canada Soccer has 'threatened to sue' women's players who are attending a team camp, in addition to the Canada Soccer Player's Association.
That's according to a TSN report which imminently follows an announcement from the nation's female players who said they would be going on strike due to issues over pay equity and budget slashings.
Cited sources stated the threat came Saturday morning, prior to crunch talks between player representatives and Canada Soccer's president, Nick Bontis, and general secretary, Earl Cochrane.
Dailymail.com has reached out to both Canada Soccer and the Canada Soccer Player's Association for comment.
Just a day ago, Canada's female players sent shockwaves through the Commonwealth nation, announcing they were going on strike just six days before they are set to take part in a four-team tournament in the United States.
![Canada Soccer 'threatened to sue some of its female players and the CSPA' on Saturday. Pictured: Canada Women players during a friendly last year](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/11/08/67568755-11738423-Canada_Soccer_says_they_had_a_planned_meeting_with_the_women_s_n-a-4_1676103055597.jpg)
Canada Soccer 'threatened to sue some of its female players and the CSPA' on Saturday. Pictured: Canada Women players during a friendly last year
![Canada Soccer planned an emergency meeting with player representatives on Saturday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/11/08/67568161-11738423-Players_have_called_out_Canada_Soccer_for_their_lack_of_funding_-a-3_1676103055591.jpg)
Canada Soccer planned an emergency meeting with player representatives on Saturday
Players said Canada Soccer informed the team of significant program cuts for this year - with the team set to play in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this July and August.
According to a statement from the Canadian Soccer Players' Association - the union representing the CWNT - they've been forced to cut 'full camp windows, cut the number of players and staff invited into camps, significantly limit the already limited youth team's activities, all while we continue to face immense uncertainty about compensation.'
'Canada's national teams have never been more successful, or attracting more corporate dollars,' the statement added. 'Yet despite these steps forward, we are still stuck asking the same question... where is the funding?'
Speaking to TSN reporter Rick Westhead, the reigning Olympic gold medalists said the team will not be training or preparing for the SheBelieves Cup - even as the team are in Orlando with matches days away.
Christine Sinclair - Canada's captain and the greatest international goal scorer in football history - said that the team intends to take job action.
'We arrived into camp three days ago. We've trained the past two days. Some of us trained today with our shirts inside out,' Sinclair revealed.
Westhead also tweeted that Canada's Women's National Team only has 20 players in their camp down in Orlando, which isn't enough for them to do 11-on-11 practices. The team had 28 players in their final camp before the Tokyo Olympics.
He detailed a pay equity disparity, with flights a microcosm: 'All MNT players are booked to fly [business] class for upcoming Concacaf Nations League. WNT player Janine Beckie flew Manchester to Vancouver for a Team Canada game vs Nigeria last April and paid $1,200 out of pocket to upgrade from premium economy.'
![Sinclair (No. 12) added: We will continue to fight for everything we deserve and we will win'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/12/00/67589879-11740657-image-a-6_1676160282669.jpg)
Christine Sinclair (No. 12) - Canada's captain and the greatest international goal scorer in football history - said that the team intends to take job action
![Canada Women are set to play in 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/12/00/67589881-11740657-image-a-7_1676160418343.jpg)
Canada Women are set to play in 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand
After the strike was announced, Canada Soccer released a statement saying they would be hosting an emergency meeting with the team on Saturday.
The women's team gained support from the men's national team, with multiple World Cup players - including Celtic defender Alastair Johnston - tweeting out a statement from their own players association in solidarity.
It is not the first time that members of Canada's national teams have called out the governing body for failing to properly fund its teams.
In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Canadian men's center back Kamal Miller said that youth development has been sorely lacking funding.
'I think what I want most from this World Cup other than to win... is to turn on the lights and turn on the emergency alarm at Canada Soccer and at these clubs at the youth level that our youth development system needs to be so much better,' Miller said.
Miller further added: 'I think [Canada Soccer] need to do a better job at leveling the playing field for every kid have an equal opportunity.'
![Canadian Women's national team strike is over with players to return to training and games](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/11/08/67567851-11738423-Canada_s_women_s_soccer_team_is_on_strike_over_under_funding_and-a-2_1676103055582.jpg)
The nation's women's soccer team is on strike over 'under funding and lack of gender equity'
![Canada's men's national team is backing the women's team in their fight against the CSA](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/11/22/67568249-11740657-Canada_s_men_s_national_team_is_backing_the_women_s_team_in_thei-a-1_1676155971374.jpg)
Canada's men's national team is backing the women's team in their fight against the CSA
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