Canadian soccer up in arms

Soccer team protests have spread north of the border. The Canadian men's national team refused to take the field against Panama on Sunday after a dispute with Canada soccer over how exactly the funds from their upcoming World Cup appearance will be distributed

The players have released a letter.

“Canada Soccer has disrespected our team and jeopardised our efforts to raise the standards and effectively advance the game in Canada,” read the letter. “We hope Canada Soccer will take decisive steps to work with our team so we can be back on the field for our match on June 9.”

The players apologized for their actions.

The players claimed the organization was only going to give them 10 percent of the minimum $10 million they will receive for their appearance, when they wanted 40 percent. Canada soccer says the players wanted all of it. It is difficult to believe that Canada soccer is the bosses. Canada Soccer has farmed out their commercial business to something called Canada Soccer Business, and it's not like they're posting their financials on a website where everyone can see them The players want equal pay for both men and women players, like the U.S. Soccer team has agreed to do.

It's a ballsy move from the players, who only have this window and one in September to prepare for the World Cup, so every match takes on more importance than most friendly matches. It's hard to believe that this will be solved by the time Canada's Nations League games start later in the week, though the idea that they wouldn't take the field inQatar is far from reality.

They have a lot of leverage, as this will be Canada Soccer's biggest pay day in some time, and the players even just dangled the thought of them not getting it.