Two scheduled training sessions in Vancouver for the Canadian men’s soccer team have been canceled amid ongoing discussions about player compensation.
The advanced teams of Canada Soccer placed equipment at the Vancouver Whitecaps training base on Friday afternoon, but repackaged it and left the field empty minutes before the start of the session.
A session scheduled for Saturday was also canceled.
“Canada Soccer is currently in discussions with its national team players about fair and equitable compensation for players prior to the FIFA World Cup,” the association said. said in a statement late Saturday night.
The team is in Vancouver before a friendly match against Panama, scheduled for Sunday. Canada is also scheduled to host Curacao in the CONCACAF League of Nations match on June 9.
TSN reported that the players refused to participate in training on Friday due to a dispute over a contract that includes in part how much the athletes will receive for participating in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
A spokesman for Canada Soccer said on Saturday that discussions on player compensation were continuing.
“What we want is fair”
Toronto midfielder Jonathan Osorio spoke to The Canadian Press about the talks on the eve of the international break.
“I think the players we want are fair,” he said. “We do not want to be treated more special than such teams with which we compare. We just want to be respected, not take advantage of them and just give us a fair share. “
The 29-year-old Osorio has 55 appearances for Canada with seven goals and seven assists, but is not currently on the team as he is dealing with a lower body injury.
The Toronto-born player said the players for the national team have seen an improvement in their flight and accommodation since head coach John Herdman took over the team in January 2018.
“It’s very different than it was before,” Osorio said. Having said that, there are a lot of things that need to happen from the federation. I think players need to see more support from the federation now and not just rely on John to get things done. I think those things will come with results. “
The athletes and Canada Soccer are also reportedly discussing whether the association will help players take their loved ones to Qatar.
Osorio believes they will receive some help, but said details have not been agreed.
“I don’t think they can take care of everyone’s extended family,” he said. “I think everyone’s closest families will be taken care of. And then, if the players want to take care of other people, I think the federation will help, too, I just don’t know how much. “
Canada Soccer President Nick Bontis and his interim secretary general were scheduled to land in Vancouver on Saturday afternoon. A spokesman for the association said their trip was planned before Friday’s training was canceled.
No time to waste
Herdman said every minute his band spends together is “crucial” as he prepares to compete on the world’s biggest stage in November.
“There is no minute that can be wasted at this time,” he said in a statement when the team’s roster was published last month.
Sunday’s match is the first of three for the 38 Canadians ranked in the current international window.
№ 61 Panama was not originally on the Canadian schedule for this window. Instead, Canada had to face Iran in a friendly match on June 5, but the match drew fierce criticism, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau saying it was “not a very good idea”.
An Iranian surface-to-air missile shot down Ukraine’s International Airlines Flight 752 on January 8, 2020, shortly after taking off from Tehran, killing 176 people, including 85 Canadians and residents.
Canada Soccer canceled the match on May 26 and Panama was named as a substitute opponent on May 31.
After hosting No. 79 Curacao at BC Place, Canada must travel to San Pedro Sula to face No. 82 Honduras on 13 June.
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