While the crisis has only just begun for the blues of the French soccer team, for our Canadian cousins ​​across the Atlantic it is about to reach its epilogue.

Canada Soccer (Federation) President Nick Bontis, who was specifically found unfit to run the gender equality selection projects, resigned on Monday.

“While I have been one of the biggest advocates of an egalitarian system in terms of competitive performance, unfortunately I will no longer lead the federation for our women’s national team if that happens. I recognize that the current context calls for a change,” Bontis explained in a press release, indicating his resignation is effective immediately.

“Canada Soccer and our national team programs are in the process of signing a historic collective agreement,” he said without giving details, promising a “flagship deal that will set ‘Canada’ apart from virtually every other FIFA member.”

According to sports television broadcaster TSN, the 13 provincial and territorial federations had sent a letter earlier Monday calling for Mr Bontis to resign. In early February, the women’s team led a day-long strike to denounce gender inequality and a lack of funding, an approach supported by the men’s team.

An equal pay agreement in the United States

The movement had been halted amid threats of legal action against her by the federation, and the reigning Olympic champion responded by playing the SheBelieves Cup in Florida, a friendly pre-season tournament for the Women’s World Cup this summer.

According to the team’s emblematic captain, Christine Sinclair, the association awarded more than CA$11 million to the men’s team in 2021, up from approximately CA$5 million to the women’s team the previous year, the association’s expenditures were almost identical: just over $3 million for the men and $2.8 million for the women.

Last year, the Americans, two-time reigning world champions, agreed with their association on equal pay with the men’s team.