Sports FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2015 Australia players take legal action over pay MELBOURNE: Current and former Australia FIFA World Cup qualifier is inappropriate and ment. “The players have also exercised their Dubai. “During the meeting the players players have taken legal action against the unnecessarily disruptive,” FFA CEO David rights under the CBA to have the Socceroos instructed the PFA to categorically reject any national soccer governing body over a fes- Gallop said in a statement yesterday. commercial contracts independently audit- suggestion that the their focus for the tering pay dispute days before the team is to “The matters in question relate back to ed.” upcoming qualifier would waiver due to the open its qualifying campaign for the 2018 2010, were first raised in August last year and The PFA said an arbitrator had been media speculation,” Vivian said. World Cup. Football Federation Australia are not material to the current qualification appointed but no date had been set to com- “In accordance with the players’ instruc- (FFA) said the dispute related to payments campaign.” The players’ union said it had mence proceedings. The team has been at a tions this matter has been ongoing for the dating back to 2010 and slammed the play- filed a grievance in accordance with the training camp in United Arab Emirates this past six months and has never detracted ers’ union for making it public in the leadup Socceroos’ Collective Bargaining Agreement week preparing for their first match against from their performances over this period. to the June 16 opener against Kyrgyzstan. in relation to “Agreed Payments”. the central Asian nation. “These are players that are plying their trade “The PFA’s decision to make public state- “This is a matter to be determined by an The PFA said in a statement late on at the very highest levels of the game and ments about a confidential and independ- independent arbitrator,” Professional Thursday that their chief executive Adam their commitment to the national team is ent dispute resolution process days before a Footballers Australia (PFA) said in a state- Vivian had met with Socceroos players in not in doubt. — Reuters Women’s soccer draws viewers, fans as FIFA scandal simmers VANCOUVER/WINNIPEG: Global television audiences for the Women’s World Cup in Canada bounced sharply higher in the open- ing days of the tournament and merchandise flew off the shelves, underscoring the growing popularity of the beautiful game. Some 3.3 million Americans tuned in to watch Team USA’s open- ing win against Australia, FIFA said on Wednesday, three times the number who saw its opener in Germany four years ago. In China, viewership nearly doubled for the country’s first game while 16 per- cent more Japanese - 4.2 million - watched their defending champi- ons beat Switzerland in the opener than watched them in the semifi- nals in the last tournament. A showdown between France and England drew roughly 1.5 million viewers in each country, a third more French viewers than last time. The figures, while far below the average official rating of 188.4 mil- lion viewers per game in the men’s World Cup in Brazil last year, high- lights the growing momentum in the women’s game. Women’s soc- cer has played second fiddle to the more lucrative men’s game but the bribery scandal surrounding FIFA, the sport’s governing body, and hopes for a U.S. triumph close to home has spurred interest in a section of the sport less drenched in money. “The reason people sponsor sport is to connect to the ideals of sport,” said Wade Oosterman, president of BCE Inc, a major sponsor and parent of the event’s broadcaster, Bell Media. “It’s the joy of the game, it’s competition, it’s integrity and fair play, it’s all those positive attributes - and thank God the Women’s World Cup represents those in spades.” U.S. prosecutors indicted nine current or former FIFA offi- cials and five corporate executives on corruption charges on May 27. As the scandal broke, the spotlight turned to the Women’s World Cup as games got underway in five Canadian cities last week, bring- ing an unintended benefit to an overlooked sport. More than 1.5 mil- PORTO ALEGRE: Brazil’s Neymar, left, fights for the ball with Honduras’ Mario Martinez during a friendly soccer match in lion fans are expected, nearly double that seen in Germany in 2011, Porto Alegre, Brazil, Wednesday. Brazil is preparing for the Copa America which began yesterdayday in Chile. — AP which had fewer games, as tickets sell out. Long lines Neymar, Messi eye Overall more than 8.6 million Canadians have tuned into watch during the opening three days of the tournament, more than triple the 2011 audience. duel as Copa kicks off On the ground, sports bars in New York and Los Angeles filled up for the first US game, while lineups for merchandise at games in Edmonton and Winnipeg snaked hundreds of meters as fans stood SANTIAGO: A mouthwatering duel Neymar aiming to erase the memory of Paraguay on Saturday, and should progress for hours to get a t-shirt or hat. —Reuters between Barcelona superstars Lionel Messi Brazil’s World Cup debacle. from a Group B which also includes Uruguay and Neymar is looming over the Copa “I feel I’m in better shape arriving at this and Jamaica, one of two teams from the America as the three-week football extrava- tournament than I was at the World Cup last CONCACAF region invited to bolster the ganza started in Chile yesterday. One of the year,” Messi told reporters at Argentina’s tournament. Argentina’s title drought pales most eagerly anticipated tournaments in training camp. Messi and Argentina fell ago- into comparison with the fate of long-suffer- years starts in Santiago, with the hosts fac- nizingly short at the World Cup, suffering a ing Chile, still waiting for their first Copa ing Ecuador in Group A at 8.30pm (2330 1-0 extra-time defeat to Germany in the America title after 99 years. Coach Jorge GMT) to launch their quest for a first ever final to extend a title drought which stretch- Sampaoli can call on a spine of world class Copa crown. es back to the 1993 Copa America. players-Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio A galaxy of Europe-based stars will be on Bravo, Italy-based midfielders Arturo Vidal show in Chile, including Argentina captain Messi determined and Gary Medel, and Arsenal star Sanchez- Messi and Brazil counterpart Neymar, Messi admitted that Argentina’s richly as the hosts try to break their duck. “This is Colombia’s James Rodriguez, Chile’s Alexis talented squad-which includes the likes of the time to accomplish great things,” Sanchez and Uruguayan striker Edinson Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero and Angel di Sanchez said. Cavani. Messi and Neymar arrive at the tour- Maria-were determined to end the nament less than a week after inspiring Albiceleste’s long wait for a trophy. Brazil resurgent Spanish giants Barcelona to the Champions “This generation is desperate to win a Brazil and Neymar meanwhile begin League triumph, the final act of a glittering title with the national team,” Messi said. their campaign against Peru in Group C on treble-winning season. Manchester City star Aguero was even Sunday. Brazil’s biggest challenge of the first EDMONTON: New Zealand’s goal keepers warm up with some Both number 10s are carrying a heavy more candid. “If this generation of players round comes three days later when they drills during a practice session yesterday for the FIFA Women’s weight of expectation on their shoulders, don’t win anything we’re going to regret it face Colombia on June 17, a rematch of the World Cup in Edmonton, Canada. New Zealand faces the host with Messi determined to finally taste glory for the rest of our lives,” the striker said. two sides’ bruising World Cup quarter-final Canada in their second match of the tournament. — AFP at a major international tournament and Argentina open their campaign against last year. — AFP.