OTTAWA, Canada — Canada’s celebration tour kicked off with a 5-1 trouncing of New Zealand in front of 16,386 fans at TD Place Stadium on Saturday, but there was much more than soccer on the minds of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medal champions.
Prior to the match, the Canadian Soccer Players Association (CSPA) released a letter with three urgent demands and requirements they have for Canada Soccer which demanded a commitment to safe environments for athletes and accountability for all, including a specific mention of Bob Birarda, the former Vancouver Whitecaps and Canada Soccer women’s coach who allegedly sexually abused and exploited players over the span of two decades.
I am so proud of this team. pic.twitter.com/kt4Gzq9tc4
— Christine Sinclair (@sincy12) October 23, 2021
Women’s soccer is in the middle of a reckoning with abuse, harassment, and a toxic workplace environments. The National Women’s Soccer League is at the center of that in North America following public revelations about misconduct at and potential systemic cover-ups by multiple clubs. The North Carolina Courage, Portland Thorns and Washington Spirit are all facing serious allegations for not protecting their players.
