Canada abandon strike action but frustration lingers

Canada's national women's team said they will return to team activities following threats of legal action from Canada Soccer due to the players' protest over funding cuts.

Less than a week before the Olympic champions are due to play the United States, Brazil and Japan in the SheBelieves Cup, captain Christine Sinclair and Janine Beckie appeared on TSN on Friday to say they would not take part in any team activities - including playing - until the dispute was resolved.

The interview came after both Canada's women's and men's teams issued statements complaining about budget cuts for the women's team which the players said threatened to compromise their ability to perform at this year's Women's World Cup. Canada will face the Republic of Ireland in Group B at the Australia and New Zealand-hosted tournament.

In a fresh statement late on Saturday, the team said they would be calling off the strike action following a meeting with Canada Soccer.

The statement said: "Canada Soccer told us that they consider our job action to be an unlawful strike.

"They told us that if we did not return to work - and did not commit today to playing in Thursday's game against the United States - they would not only take legal action to force us back to the pitch but would consider taking steps to collect what could be millions of dollars in damages from our players association and from each of the individual players currently in camp.

"As individual players who have received no compensation yet for any of our work for Canada Soccer in 2022, we cannot afford the risks that personal action against us by Canada Soccer will create. Because of this, we have advised Canada Soccer that we will return to training tomorrow and will play in the SheBelieves Cup