Soccer

Canadian Womens Soccer Players Boycott National Team Matches

Posted on February 9, 2011 by yellowsweatygorilla

The Canadian Womens National Team have decided to boycott matches after their coach, Morace left following disputes with the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) and in response to poor compensation/salary packages offered to the women. The women currently get paid $1,500/month and play for teams like Vancouver Whitecap, which according to some websites I checked out don’t really pay the womens’ players much (some teams don’t pay them at all, while Vancouver makes the players pick up over jobs like coaching summer camps). The CSA also ridiculously requires the womens’ team to qualify for major tournaments before paying – should the team not qualify, they would receive no pay. As with the sports industry in general, there’s a great deal of sexism, as there’s no doubt that the mens’ team gets compensated at a much higher number (and the CSA has refused to release the men’s numbers). While at the same […]

Football and Resistance

Posted on February 1, 2011August 26, 2019 by yellowsweatygorilla

Anyone who knows me well, would’ve heard me harp on and on about how awesome football (soccer) is, and how we’re going to have a social revolution come out of the stadiums … And while I tend to exaggerate, once again, we hear news of the connections between football as a space for organizing and social change. This time, it’s Egypt. http://www.edgeofsports.com/2011-01-31-596/index.html (via Ryan Hayes) Over the decades that have marked the tenure of Egypt’s “President for Life” Hosni Mubarak, there has been one consistent nexus for anger, organization, and practical experience in the ancient art of street fighting: the country’s soccer clubs. Over the past week, the most organized, militant fan clubs, also known as the “ultras,” have put those years of experience to ample use. And, it’s apparent that the Egyptian government and neighbouring governments have taken notice. The Egyptian Soccer Federation has suspended all league games, to prevent fans from […]