Canada-Panama match canceled in labor, equal pay dispute

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Canada's World Cup warmup match against Panama was canceled Sunday when the men's team refused to play because of a labor dispute with the nation's governing body that includes a demand the women's national team get equal match fees.

Players, preparing for the nation's first men's World Cup appearance since 1986, refused to train Friday and Saturday.

Players said they want 40% of World Cup prize money, a friends and family travel package and and “equitable structure with our women’s national team that shares the same player match fees, percentage of prize money earned at our respective FIFA World Cups and the development of a women’s domestic league.”

“We want to work together with our organization, but the relationship has been strained for years,” players said in a statement. “And now, Canada Soccer has disrespected our team and jeopardized our efforts to raise the standards and effectively advance the game in Canada."

Unions for the U.S. men's and women's national teams announced agreements on May 18 calling for equal pay, including a pooling of World Cup prize money. The Canadian men said they want an equal percentage of prize money and equal match fees.

“In March we initiated contract discussions with Canada Soccer," the men's national team said in a statement. “Due to executives delaying the process and taking vacations, the negotiation process was unnecessarily prolonged. Canada Soccer waited until the evening of July 2 to present an archaic offer and the general secretary and president of the association only made themselves available for the first time to connect with players on June 4 at 4 p.m. For these reasons, we have reluctantly decided not to play our match today against Panama."

Richard Scott, a spokesman for the...