The Canadian men’s soccer team returns to training after refusing a friendly match against Panama due to a contract dispute
Team Canada has demanded changes to its compensation agreement, including bigger prize money for World Cup players. The team qualified for the World Cup for the second time after 1986.
Canadian captain Atiba Hutchinson. (Courtesy of Reuters)
STRONG POINTS
- Canada qualified for the World Cup for the second time after 1986
- Players have requested changes to their compensation agreement
- With the negotiators back, Team Canada took to the field for a friendly match
The Canadian men’s soccer team says it has agreed to return to training after refusing to play a friendly match against Panama due to stalled contract negotiations with Canada Soccer.
Two hours before kick-off on Sunday in Vancouver, the Canadian team informed its association that it would not play the match until its requests had been accepted.
The team demanded changes to their compensation deal, including bigger prize money for World Cup players, Reuters reported. The World Cup in Qatar will be the second time Canada has qualified for the global event since emerging in 1986.
“Canada Soccer’s senior executives and the players of the Men’s National Team met on Sunday evening to continue the negotiation process. Players will train this afternoon (Monday) with future meetings scheduled for resolution,” Canada Soccer said in a statement shared on Twitter.
When the negotiators returned, the players entered the field to prepare for the World Cup. The players, however, clarified that no agreement had been reached.