卡洛斯·科迪罗(Carlos Cordeiro)周四辞去了美国足球联合会(USSF)主席的职务,原因是国家女队要求同工同酬的诉讼混乱。美国足球联合会周一提交的法院文件被普遍认为是反对妇女的行为,指出女子足球队的责任不如男子足球队的责任大。
“毫无疑问,[男子国家队]球员的工作比[女子国家队]球员的工作实质上需要更多的力量和速度,”部分阅读文件。
美国足球已经要求法院驳回诉讼,该女子球队正在寻求6700万美元的赔偿。
科尔迪埃罗(Cordeiro)对周三美国足球所使用的语言表示歉意,他说这些言论“没有反映我们联邦的价值观或我们对女子国家队的钦佩。”
大约24小时后,Cordeiro就辞职发表了一份声明,其中他负责不适当地审查法院文件。
科尔迪罗写道:“我的唯一任务一直是做对我们的联邦最有利的事情,而对我来说,很清楚,目前最好的是一个新的方向。” “本周法律文件中所包含的论点和语言引起了极大的冒犯和痛苦,特别是对我们应有的更好的非凡的女子国家队来说。这是无法接受和不可原谅的。”
科尔迪罗继续说:“在提交之前,我没有机会全面审查整个申请,我对此不负责任。” “如果这样做的话,我本来会反对那种不能反映出我对女性球员或我们作为一个组织的价值观的个人钦佩的语言。”
科尔迪罗补充说:“随着美式足球队继续对球队的诉讼进行辩护,我希望我们杰出的女子球员总是受到他们应有的尊严,尊重和钦佩,”
《新闻周刊》向美国足球联合会(US Soccer Federation)征求意见,但未及时收到回应以将其发表。
美国国家女队(USWNT)成员梅根·拉皮诺(Megan Rapinoe)在周三的赛后采访中称,美国足球对该队诉讼的反驳令人“失望”。
拉皮诺说:“我们已经感觉到,这是他们长期以来的潜意识里的某些感觉,但是看到公然的厌食症和性别歧视作为对我们的论点确实令人失望。但是我只想说这是所有这些都是虚假的。对于在那里的每个女孩,对于看着这个团队,想要实现自己的梦想的每个男孩,您都不会因为您是女孩而变得更少,而您并不会因为您是男孩而变得更好。
美国足球的公司赞助商也拒绝了法院文件中的措辞,包括周四在推特上发布的“美国大众汽车公司”,“美国大众汽车公司对美国足球公司的立场感到厌恶,这简直是不可接受的。我们非常重视性别包容性和平等并要求我们的合作伙伴也这样做。我们支持USWNT及其代表世界的理想。我们要求美式足球达到这些价值观。”
美国女子国家队发言人莫莉·莱文森(Molly Levinson)告诉《华盛顿邮报》:“尽管令人欣慰的是,人们对美军公然的厌恶情绪充满了震耳欲聋的抗议,但卡洛斯·科尔迪罗(Carlos Cordeiro)监督的性别歧视文化和政策已获批准多年。该机构必须改变和支持妇女,并同等报酬。”
现任美国足球联合会副主席辛迪·帕洛·康尼将取代科尔迪罗担任该组织的代理主席,此举获得了前美国西部大联盟球员朱莉·福迪的支持。
福迪写道:“随着美国足球总统卡洛斯·科迪埃罗(Carlos Cordeiro)辞职,辛迪·帕罗(Cindy Parlow)成为代理总统。” “我和辛迪一起玩了很多年。我认识辛迪。她知道所有的球员都经历过这种生活。而且她是人类的地狱。给她一个成功的机会。拜托。”
"It is undisputed that the job of [a Men's National Team] player requires materially more strength and speed than the job of [a Women's National Team] player," read the documents in part.
U.S. Soccer has asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit, in which the women's team is seeking $67 million.
Cordeiro apologized for the language used by U.S. Soccer Wednesday, saying the statements "did not reflect the values of our Federation or our tremendous admiration of our Women's National Team."
Roughly 24 hours later, Cordeiro issued a statement concerning his resignation in which he took responsibility for not properly reviewing the court filing.
"My one and only mission has always been to do what is best for our Federation, and 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 who deserve better. It was unacceptable and inexcusable."
"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," Cordeiro continued. "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."
"As U.S. Soccer moves ahead with its defense against the lawsuit by the team, I hope that our remarkable women's players are always treated with the dignity, respect and admiration that they truly deserve," Cordeiro added.
Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Soccer Federation for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.
U.S. National Women's Team (USWNT) member Megan Rapinoe called U.S. Soccer's rebuttal to the team's lawsuit "disappointing" in a post-game interview on Wednesday.
"We have felt that those are some of the undercurrent feelings they've had for a long time," Rapinoe said, "but to see that blatant misogyny and sexism as the argument against us is really disappointing. But I just want to say it's all false. To every girl out there, to every boy out there who watches this team, who wants to live their dream, you not lesser just because you are a girl. You are not better just because you are a boy."
Corporate sponsors of U.S. Soccer also rejected the language in the court filing, including Volkswagen USA which tweeted on Thursday, "We at Volkswagen of America are disgusted by positions taken by U.S. Soccer and they are simply unacceptable. We place great emphasis on gender inclusivity and equality and require our partners do the same. We stand by the USWNT and the ideals they represent for the world. We demand that U.S. Soccer rise up to these values."
Molly Levinson, spokesperson for the U.S. Women's National Team, told The Washington Post, "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. This institution must change and support and pay women equally."
Current U.S. Soccer Federation Vice President Cindy Parlow Cone will take Cordeiro's place as acting president of the organization, a move which gained the support of former USWNT player Julie Foudy.
"With US Soccer President Carlos Cordeiro resigning, Cindy Parlow becomes Acting President," Foudy wrote. "I played with Cindy for many years. I know Cindy. She understands ALL the players are going through having lived it. And she is one hell of a human. Give her a chance to succeed. Please."