Sports

US federation accused of pay 'ruse' by women's national team


The USA beat the Netherlands 2-0 to win the World Cup for a fourth time in July

The US women’s football team has accused its federation of using a “ruse” by saying they earn more than the men’s national side.

The US women’s team (USWNT) began legal action against the US Soccer Federation (USSF) over equal pay in March, four months before retaining the World Cup.

On Monday, the USSF said the women’s team had been paid more than the men’s over the last decade.

But a USWNT statement said the numbers were “utterly false”.

“This is a sad attempt by USSF to quell the overwhelming tide of support the USWNT has received from everyone from fans to sponsors to the United States Congress,” it added.

“The USSF has repeatedly admitted that it does not pay the women equally and that it does not believe the women even deserve to be paid equally.”

In an open letter