Canada women make U-turn on planned strike and return to training following legal threats from Canada Soccer

Canada women cancelled a proposed strike following legal threats from Canada soccer and returned to training on Sunday.

After captain Christine Sinclair announced the walkout on Friday, the team have confirmed they won’t be striking any longer as they “cannot afford the risks” any consequent action would entail.

The players released a joint statement on Friday, which explained how Canada soccer considered their job action to be an “unlawful strike”.

Although they went on to say how they respected the players’ rights to organise, they “were not and are not in a legal strike position under Ontario labour law”.

Sinclair broke the silence on social media and wrote on Twitter: “We are being forced back to work for the short term.

“This is not over. We will continue to fight for everything we deserve and we will win.”

Canada will compete in the SheBelieves Cup tournament in February “in protest”, where they will come up against the United States.

The players announced they would reluctantly return to training on Sunday, but still believe the national team programme is “unacceptable”.

“Canada Soccer told us that if we did not return to work – and did not commit today to playing against the United States – they would not only take legal action to force us back to the pitch but would consider taking steps to collect what could be millions of dollars in damages from our players association and from each of the individual players currently in camp,” the statement read.

“As individual players who have received no compensation yet for any of our work for Canada Soccer in 2022, we cannot afford the risks that personal action against us by them will create.

“We continue to believe that unless we stand up together and demand more, nothing will ever change.”

Canada soccer responded to the statement and said it had committed to a “historic comprehensive collective agreement” in line with both the men’s and women’s teams.

The statement read: “Canada Soccer was not prepared to jeopardise the SheBelieves Cup tournament or the preparation it would afford the women’s national team for the upcoming World Cup.

“Canada Soccer, therefore, took the necessary steps to ensure that such games will be played as scheduled.

“Canada Soccer is heartened that the women’s team will play as it committed.”

Tottenham captain Shelina Zadorsky has been offered the full support of the club, Spurs manager Rehanne Skinner said at the weekend.

“We have got really good relationship with the Canadian staff so obviously they’re in the thick of it as well but whatever Shelina needs from us in these moments, she has got the support and full backing from the club,” Skinner said after Tottenham’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United on Sunday.

“We talk about these things a lot so they can go into an environment where they can feel settled and continue to train and play well.

“Naturally when you believe in something, it is important you stand up for what you believe in and ultimately that is the process they are in the middle of.

“Hopefully they get to a really good outcome that has been talked about in the past and then they can move forward in preparation for the World Cup.”