Canada end strike to return to training for 2023 SheBelieves Cup
Olympic champions had responded to budget cuts by national federation Canada Soccer who then threatened legal action against the players. Captain Christine Sinclair says they will play "in protest".
Football
Canada's women's football team has returned to training ahead of the 2023 SheBelieves Cup after Canada Soccer threatened to sue the players for not being "in a legal strike position".
The Olympic champions from Tokyo 2020 had reacted to news of budget cuts to national team programmes, for both women and men, with captain Christine Sinclair telling TSN's Sportscentre, "I can't represent this association."
The team, via the Canadian Soccer Players Association (CSPA), said in a statement, "We have been told, quite literally, that Canada Soccer cannot adequately fund the Women's National Team, and they have waited to tell us this until now, when we are less than six months from the World Cup.
"If Canada Soccer is not willing or able to support our team, new leadership should be found."
The parties met on Saturday (11 February) to discuss the issues with Canada Soccer releasing a statement saying it had "committed to negotiating a comprehensive collective agreement with both of the player associations of the Women’s and Men’s National Teams".
Addressing claims that they had forced the players to abandon their strike action, Canada Soccer said, "The players, while having taken job action, were not and are not in a legal strike position under Ontario labour law. Canada Soccer was not prepared to jeopardize the SheBelieves Cup tournament, the preparation it would afford the Women’s National Team for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, nor the experience it would afford countless fans who had undoubtedly traveled to Orlando to see their National Team heroes. Canada Soccer therefore took the necessary steps to ensure that such games will be played as scheduled. Canada Soccer is heartened that the Women’s National Team Players will play as it committed."
Despite ending the strike, Sinclair later insisted "this is not over" and that the players' participation in the SheBelieves Cup would be "in protest".
Canada at the 2023 SheBelieves Cup
The 2023 SheBelieves Cup takes place in three cities in the United States: Orlando, Nashville and Frisco.
Canada start their campaign against two-time reigning world champions USA in Orlando on Thursday before facing Brazil and Japan.
Their last match was a 2-1 defeat to Brazil in Sao Paulo on 15 November, four days after beating the South Americans by the same scoreline in nearby Santos.
Sinclair currently has 319 international appearances with only USA's Kristine Lilly (354) ahead of her.
The 39-year-old forward holds the world record for international goals with 190.
2023 SheBelieves Cup full schedule
Thursday 16 February - Orlando, Florida
Japan vs Brazil, 16:00 ET (21:00 GMT, 22:00 CET)
USA vs Canada, 19:00 ET (00:00 GMT, 01:00 CET)
Sunday 19 February - Nashville, Tennesse
USA vs Japan, 14:30 CT (20:30 GMT, 21:30 GMT)
Brazil vs Canada, 17:30 CT (23:30 GMT, 00:30 CET)
Wednesday 22 February - Frisco, Texas
Canada vs Japan, 15:00 CT (21:00 GMT, 22:00 CET)
United States vs Brazil, 18:00 CT (00:00 GMT, 01:00 CET)