United States Soccer Federation President Carlos Cordeiro stepped down from his position on Thursday night, effective immediately.
The move comes after court filings from USSF's battle with the U.S. Women's National Team over equal pay _ which essentially concluded that the women's team was not deserving of equal pay were inferior to the men's team _ were made public and prompted a public outcry.
USSF VP Cindy Parlow Cone will step in the acting president, and as a result, becomes the first female president in the federation's history.
"The arguments and language contained in this week's legal filing caused great offense and pain, especially to our extraordinary Women's National Team players who deserve better," the statement reads. "It was unacceptable and inexcusable. I did not have the opportunity to fully review the filing in its entirety before it was submitted, and I take responsibility for not doing so. Had I done so, I would have objected to language that did not reflect my personal admiration for our women's players or our values as an organization."
The WNT is seeking $67 million in backpay, which would bring them level in compensation with what the men receive. Despite the WNT's greater level of success, USSF has justified the pay gap by arguing that the women are not as popular and do not generate the same revenue as the men.
In the latest court filing, USSF took things a step further, suggesting that the men deserve more because they are heckled more, because the men carry more responsibility, and _ most ridiculous of all _ because the men are physically superior and possess more skill.
Cordeiro was appointed to the post in February 2018 after Sunil Gulati stepped down following the MNT's failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Cordeiro also presided over the WNT's 2019 World Cup win in France.
Prior to her role as USSF VP, Cone was a member of the 1999 women's squad that won the World Cup, and the first-ever head coach for NWSL's Portland Thorns FC.
But while the apology was a necessary first step, and the appointment of a woman to the federation's top post is refreshing (even if temporary), it's still not clear why _ given the lip service here _ USSF doesn't just pay the WNT what they deserve. Hopefully that will change going forward.
