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 US Soccer president resigns amid gender equity dispute 

GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File / Emilee ChinnCarlos Cordeiro has stepped down as US Soccer Federation president amid uproar over language branded sexist in court documents filed in the US women's team gender discrimination lawsuit against the federation

US Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro resigned on Thursday as the federation was slammed by superstar Megan Rapinoe for "blatant sexism" in its latest response to a gender discrimination lawsuit by the US women's team.

Rapinoe wasn't the only critic of the federation after comments made in court papers this week in which US Soccer said playing on the men's national team "requires a higher level of skill based on strength and speed" than does playing on the women's team.

The documents argued that the men bear more responsibility than the women when representing their country.

The documents were filed on Monday in the gender discrimination lawsuit filed by the US women against the federation in March of 2019.

They are seeking $66 million in back pay under the Equal Pay Act and the Civil Rights Act with the case set to go to trial on May 5.

Federation vice president Cindy Parlow Cone will take over as president in accordance with the federation bylaws, Cordeiro said.

Cone was among those voicing criticism of the remarks in the documents, which Cordeiro said Thursday he did not review thoroughly.

“It has become clear to me that what is best right now is a new direction,” Cordeiro wrote. “The arguments and language contained in this week's legal filing caused great offense and pain, especially to our extraordinary women's national team players who deserve better. It was unacceptable and inexcusable.

GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File / RONALD MARTINEZ

US women's soccer star Megan Rapinoe called comments by the US Soccer Federation in a court filing this week mysogynist and sexist as the two sides battle in an equal pay fight

“I did not have the opportunity to fully review the filing in its entirety before it was submitted, and I take responsibility for not doing so," he added. "Had I done so, I would have objected to the language."

Coca-Cola company, a longtime corporate sponsor of US Soccer and of world football's governing body FIFA, was quick to distance itself from the remarks, calling them "unacceptable and offensive" on Wednesday.

On Wednesday night, Cordeiro had issued an apology that came as the USA women, who won their second straight World Cup title in France last year, were beating Japan 3-1 in Texas to finish unbeaten winners of the SheBelieves Cup friendly tournament.

Before that match the players wore their jerseys inside out while warming up to hide the federation logo in protest.

"We have sort of felt that those are some of the undercurrent feelings that they've had for a long time," superstar Rapinoe told ESPN after the match.

"But to see that as the argument, as blatant misogyny and sexism as the argument against us, is really disappointing."

Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber found it astonishing.

"When I saw the media reports of US Soccer's recent filing, I was shocked and angry," he said Thursday.

"I expressed to (Cordeiro) in no uncertain terms how unacceptable and offensive I found the statements in that filing to be." 

US Soccer president bows to pressure, resigns after federation demeans USWNT in court filing

Nancy Armour USA TODAY

U.S. Soccer President Carlos Cordeiro issues an apology to the USWNT

U.S. Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro resigned Thursday night, bowing to heavy criticism from players, fans and sponsors over the federation’s sexist and demeaning characterization of the U.S. women’s national team in a legal filing.

Cindy Parlow Cone, a member of the 1999 World Cup champions, takes over as president. She’s the first woman to be U.S. Soccer president.

Cone now has the daunting task of repairing strained relations not only with the U.S. women’s team, but sponsors who were outraged by the federation’s blatant misogyny in its response to a gender discrimination lawsuit by the four-time World Cup champions.

In a response to a motion for summary judgment, U.S. Soccer claimed Monday night that it was “indisputable `science’” that the women lacked the “skill” of male players. It also said the women did not face the same “responsibilities” because the global game is not as developed as the men’s. 

The U.S. women expressed their displeasure by turning their warm-ups inside out before their game against Japan on Wednesday night so the four stars, which represent their World Cup titles, could be seen but the U.S. Soccer crest could not.

“We have sort of felt that those are some of the undercurrent feelings that they’ve had for a long time,” Megan Rapinoe said after the U.S. women beat Japan 3-1, extending their unbeaten streak to 31 games.


“But to see that as the argument, blatant misogyny and sexism as the argument against us, is really disappointing.”

Not only to them.

Volkswagen, a major sponsor of U.S. Soccer, said Thursday it was “disgusted” by the federation’s positions and said they were “simply unacceptable.”

“We stand by the USWNT and the ideas they represent for the world. We demand that U.S. Soccer rise up to these values,” Volkswagen said in a Twitter post, adding the hashtag “StandWithUSWNT.”


MLS Commissioner Don Garber, an influential member of the U.S. Soccer board, also expressed his displeasure Thursday, saying he was “shocked and angry” when he saw the filing. Their reactions echoed those earlier in the week by Coca-Cola, which called U.S. Soccer’s claims “unacceptable and offensive,” and Deloitte, which said it was “deeply offended.”

In his resignation letter, Cordeiro apologized for the language and tone, as he had Wednesday night, saying that the U.S. women deserved better. But he also tried to claim he had not reviewed the filing “in its entirety before it was submitted.”

“Had I done so, I would have objected to language that did not reflect my personal admiration for our women’s players or our values as an organization,” Cordeiro said.

But U.S. Soccer’s legal team had made its clear months ago that its defense was going to be rooted in sexism and humiliation.

In depositions, Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan were asked about losing to teenage boys, the insinuation being that the U.S. women were only good for female players. Kelley O’Hara was asked to justify the larger revenues and audiences for the men’s World Cup.

“While it is gratifying that there has been such a deafening outcry against USSF’s blatant misogyny, the sexist culture and policies overseen by Carlos Cordeiro have been approved for years by the board of directors of USSF,” said Molly Levinson, spokeswoman for the U.S. women. “This institution must change and support and pay women players equally.”

SEE https://plawiuk.blogspot.com/2020/03/us-mens-soccer-team-are-snowflakes.html