The cancellation of the game against Panama, a considered decision, said Atiba Hutchinson

It’s a tough call for us as a team, Hutchinson said. We lasted a long time, but we felt we had to stand up. And we felt that that was really the thing we believed needed to be done as a band.

The players and Canada Soccer are still unresolved over their contract dispute, but the national team is still preparing to play their first CONCACAF Nations League match on Thursday night against Curaçao in Colombia. British.

After missing two practice sessions on Friday and Saturday, and the game on Sunday, the players returned to the field on Monday and Tuesday at the University of British Columbia before stepping onto the field at BC Place on Wednesday, where the game will be held on Thursday night. . .

Although no new deal will be presented, Canada Soccer Acting General Secretary Earl Cochrane called the talks between the two sides a positive, perhaps more than positive.

This is equal part of negotiation and educationhe detailed, while stressing that no deadline has been set for closing these negotiations.

I think the content of the discussions will determine the length [des négociations], he added, but I don’t see how it can stretch to length. I never thought it would reach the World Cup.

We need to see how it goes, Hutchinson also said. Now it is in the hands of our legal representatives. We just want transparency.

Now ranked 38th in the world, the Canadians got their ticket to the World Cup scheduled for November-December in Qatar in March. This will be the national team’s first appearance in the tournament since 1986, and the second in its history.

But on Sunday, days after their friendship against Iran was canceled due to strong criticism from across the country (New window), the players refused to play their match against their replacement opponent, Panama. In a press release, they explained that Canada Soccer does not respect them and he wants more transparency from the federation, a change of leadership, 40% of the amounts paid by FIFA for their presence at the World Cup, an envelope for friends and family in Qatar as well as a fair financial structure for men’s and women’s groups.

Atiba Hutchinson also revealed that the two teams have been in talks since Sunday’s men’s strike about financial fairness. We just want to be equal. This is the most fair thing. Since they released their letter [dimanche], we talked to them. We just want to do it the right way.

An emotional week, according to John Herdman

No one wants to see the game canceledsaid head coach John Herdman.

And I don’t think we’ll ever see that again. Our country is not ready for that to happen … 36 years without the World Cup. No one knows it will come. No one is ready for this kind of negotiation. We made mistakes on both sides and now we will not repeat. The next generation of leaders and players will not make the same mistake. Processes will be put in place. Now they know what will happenhe continued.

The unscheduled break was difficult for the entire team, Herdman added.

It’s been an emotional week, he says. This is not what was planned. But they are back, focused and hopefully we can get back on the pitch and be able to inspire people again.

A former coach of the women’s team, John Herdman said he believes it’s time for the players to be fair.

It’s time. The women finished on the Olympic podium three in a row. No other team other than the Americans has achieved such success, he pointed out. Men arrive when they are ready to reach the next level on the world stage. I think these two groups are going to be very strong and they should stand up for the improvement of soccer in this country, for the youth, for the next generations. When they come together, this country will be stronger than ever.

The game against Curaçao, which is ranked 79th in the world, will be the first for the Canadian team since the end of CONCACAF qualifying on March 30 and a 1-0 defeat against Panama.

I think it will be a good test, concluded Herdman. I think men will be tested. There are a few that will get tired, but that won’t be the reason.