FIFA allegedly threatened players who supported World Cup lawsuit

In a court filing Monday, attorneys for more than 60 women soccer players charged that federations in Mexico and Costa Rica were asked to punish players unless they removed their names from a lawsuit against FIFA, world soccer’s governing body, and the Canadian Soccer Assn.

The suit, filed before the Human Rights Tribunal in Ontario, Canada, argues that FIFA’s decision to play next summer’s women’s World Cup in Canada exclusively on artificial-turf fields represents gender discrimination since the men’s World Cup is played solely on grass. The players who have signed on to the litigation -- including U.S. stars Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and Christie Rampone -- say artificial-turf fields alter the way the game is played and can lead to injury. They are asking FIFA and the CSA to install temporary grass surfaces in the six stadiums where next summer’s tournament will be played.

In making their retaliation claim, attorneys for the Canadian firm of Ryder Wright Blair & Holmes and the U.S. firm of Boies, Schiller & Flexner charge that Teresa Noyola was told by the Mexican federation on Oct. 10 that she would be suspended from the World Cup qualifying tournament because of her participation in the legal action. After Noyola withdrew her support, she was invited to join the team, which finished third in the tournament to clinch a spot in the World Cup.

Lawyers also cited a letter that showed the CSA was in communication with the Costa Rican federation, asking it to sanction players Diana Sanez and Katherine Alvarado for signing on to the suit. The Costa Rican federation responded by mistakenly saying the players weren’t involved and both were allowed to play in the qualifying event, helping Costa Rica finish second and also earn a World Cup berth.

Both players remain signatories to the lawsuit.

However French players Camille Abily and Elisa Bussaglia withdrew their support after they were told their participation could hurt France’s effort to win the right to play host to the 2019 World Cup. The lawyers charged those actions constitute unlawful threats of reprisal.

U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati is also referenced in the retaliation claim against FIFA and the CSA. In response to questions from the applicants’ lawyers, Gulati, a member of FIFA’s executive committee, said he believed players risk suspension by FIFA for supporting the suit.

The Tribunal gave FIFA and the CSA until Nov. 3 to respond to the latest filing.

Twitter: @kbaxter11