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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
David Irvine

Scotland women's national team launch landmark equal pay & treatment legal challenge

The Scotland women's national team have launched a landmark legal challenge demanding equal treatment and payment.

Squad captain Rachel Corsie will be a lead claimant in an employment tribunal case seeking a contract with the SFA to "ensure equal treatment and equality of payments between the male and female national sides".

The legal challenge will demand players for both the men and women's side are equally supported for all international matches.

The SWNT state parity should mean the same level of training facilities, hotel provisions, travel and nutritional needs as well as kit and medical resources.

"This is about all professional footballers being treated equally," Corsie said.

"After years of iniquity, disrespect, and in some cases abuse, we have a historic opportunity to advance equal pay and to promote equality for women and girls in football.

"This campaign is about parity, and we'll be seeking to engage with the Scottish Football Association, the fans, and everyone in Scotland's football community to deliver this long overdue change." 

Key SWNT players Caroline Weir and Erin Cuthbert are also expected to be leading voices in the legal claim.

The challenge will also demand a "fairer share" of funding from commercial deals. PFA Scotland will fully fund the legal costs in the landmark challenge.

"For so many years we’ve felt an after-thought, and whilst we have seen growth it’s come as a result of driving our own change," said Real Madrid player Weir.

"Payments from sponsorship deals overwhelmingly go to the men's game, and to male players. 

"In our current society, this is one example of the outdated prejudice towards one group of players.

"The National team should be one unified organisation that backs both the SMNT and SWNT.

"It should be an elite and high-performing environment that ensures both teams can build success.

“If shared out equally, there would be a dramatic increase in funding for women’s and girls’ football at all levels that would be transformative.”  

Chelsea star Cuthbert added: "This campaign must be the start of an irreversible turning point to forever change our national game, and the way women players are treated. 

"It's about advancing and achieving equality in Scottish football."  

The legal challenge comes after the USWNT secured equal pay with the men's side earlier this year being awarded a $24million payout.  

A Scottish FA statement in respose stated: "In the interests of accuracy, it is important to clarify some facts arising from the latest statement issued by the SWNT.

"First, no national team player, whether men’s or women’s, is paid to play for their country or receive “appearance fees”.

"International representation is and should always be regarded as a privilege and not a job, a view that we believed to be shared by all.

"We do not consider such fees to be in the spirit of playing for your country.

"Our Men’s and Women’s squads receive a per diem rate for their time with the national team, which has been exactly the same since 2017.

"While other associations such as those named in the SWNT statement may choose to pay appearance fees, our men’s and women’s national team players are incentivised to qualify for major tournaments, from which the teams are paid the same percentage of prize money from the tournament organiser.

"The squads are further remunerated in lieu of contractual media and/or promotional appearances for our national teams’ sponsors

"Again, the Scottish FA has ensured that men’s and women’s players are paid the same amount for appearances involving designated official national teams’ sponsors."

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