2023-08-18 17:15:00
Samuel Piette can’t hide his frustration with Canada Soccer’s decision not to hold friendlies for his men’s team during the next FIFA international window in September.
Ten days ago, Canada Soccer’s acting general secretary, Jason deVos, explained in an interview with the Canadian Press that the federation’s budget situation did not allow it to court quality opponents for the men who represented the country at the most recent World Cup. John Herdman’s squad will have to make do with one match against Japan in October.
“It’s a shame, said Piette before training at CF Montreal on Friday. I saw the press release that came out in which Canada Soccer [prétend] that it is financially impossible to make matches. Not that I don’t agree, but we are in such an important moment for the federation that it is important to have matches. What are we, two months away from our first Nations League match? We need every opportunity to be together, to work. It is sad. »
Hours after Piette spoke publicly, the Men’s National Team Players’ Association issued an incendiary statement in which they spoke of their disappointment with the decisions of Canada Soccer managers.
#CMNSTPA August 18th Update pic.twitter.com/v7AWh38uke
— CMNSTPA (@cmnstpa)
August 18, 2023
In this missive, the players of the national team say that they have still not received any bonuses for participation in the World Cup which are due to them. They also claim that Canada Soccer has threatened “to stop hosting matches, including our Nations League quarter-final, depriving us of the opportunity to qualify for the 2024 Copa Libertadores.”
“Canada Soccer wasted no time in pointing fingers at us, blaming us for refusing to accept a proposal that would have meant a reduction of up to 70% in our financial compensation, can we also read . Canada Soccer asks us to accept these conditions while recognizing that this would not significantly restore order to its finances. »
These are not the first criticisms that Canada Soccer has received for the management of its men’s team since the start of the year. Last June, Herdman made no secret of his annoyance at the penny-pinching savings he had to make to prepare his team.
“We are not serious. Our country will host the World Cup and we are not serious in our efforts to win it, ”the coach was discouraged.
The disputes of the women’s team with Canada Soccer are also well documented.
In the turmoil, Samuel Piette says he still has hope that he and his teammates can come together in a few weeks to avoid inactivity which could prove harmful for the rest of things.
“We, the players, push for there to be games, at least one game or a training camp that is organized. We will see how we can proceed. We put a little pressure on the Canadian Association to try to have something, so as not to be one of the only countries in the world which does not have a match. Especially when you are the next country to host the World Cup. »
“It’s hard for the players to accept because we’ve just come back from participating in the World Cup. One would think that there is a good momentum, that the standards will be at the top. […] Instead, we are in an administrative battle. We have to do more than just do our job on the pitch and that’s for sure a bit frustrating for the players. »
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