Soccer standoff between Canadian players and association sparks deja vu in former star striker

The standoff between the Canadian men's soccer team and Canada Soccer over pay and benefits is sparking a strong sense of deja vu in former Canadian star John Catliff.

In 1988, the striker led national men's team players in a similar collective action against the national sport organization, formerly called the Canadian Soccer Association, threatening to strike over poor pay on the eve of a World Cup qualifying match in Florida.

"It's just really disappointing that decades on we're still having the same sort of Mickey Mouse issues from our association. We should have learned a bit in the last 35 years," said Catliff. 

"There's just no excuse for the fact that we're sitting here at the 11th hour negotiating a contract that should have been done months ago, if not a year ago."

On Monday, players announced they would resume training, even though a deal has not been reached. The squad is scheduled to host CuraçaoThursday at B.C. Place.

On Sunday, the squad refused to play a World Cup warm-up game against Panama in Vancouver after refusing to practise on Friday and Saturday. 

The players say they want more transparency from Canada Soccer, changes in the organization's leadership, and World Cup compensation that includes 40 per cent of prize money and a "comprehensive friends and family package" for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar that begins in November.

"We want to work together with our organization, but the relationship has been strained for years," their statement said. 

Sports business expert Tom Mayenknecht said the conflict and negative publicity is costly, and will have future ramifications if not solved quickly.

"Obviously there is immediate financial loss with the game being cancelled and the expenses not going away.