Canada men's football team go on strike and demand equal pay for female players

The Canadian men’s football team demanded an “equitable pay structure” with their female counterparts as they went on strike on Sunday.

The side refused to play a friendly match against Panama yesterday amid a contract dispute with Canada Soccer.

It was confirmed the fixture was cancelled less than two hours before kick-off, leaving fans at BC Place in Vancouver disappointed.

The players released a statement to explain their position, claiming negotiations over a new deal had been “unnecessarily prolonged” and the team were being “disrespected”.

“We want to work together with our organisation, but the relationship has been strained for years,” the statement said.

“And now, Canada Soccer has disrespected our team and jeopardised our efforts to raise the standards and effectively advance the game in Canada.”

The statement mainly focuses around World Cup prize money, with Canada set to play at the men’s tournament in November for only the second time in the country’s history.

This is the "Dear Canada" letter released by Canada's national men's team players.

Asking for a review of Canada Soccer's broadcast & sponsorship contracts, 40% of World Cup qualification money, and a joint contract with the women's team with equal compensation for match fees. pic.twitter.com/STazGyJ9MW

The players are calling for an “equitable pay structure”, along with the women’s national team, that would see them earn 40 percent of World Cup prize money. They have also called for the development of a women’s domestic league.

This pay structure would be different to the one recently agreed in the United States, where the men and women’s teams will share the prize money from their respective World Cups equally.

In a statement, the Canadian women’s