The women's football team found a new ally

(Newser)
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The players of the US National Football Team have a new ally in their fight for equal pay: Procter & Gamble. The multinational, also sponsor of the team, has placed a one-page ad in the Sunday New York Times by urging the governing body of American football "to be on the right side of history". The ad continues: "Inequality is not just about pay and gamblers, it's about values." The maker of the Secret deodorant also donated $ 529,000 to the team players' association, a nominal $ 23,000 for each of the 23 players from the team who participated in the event. World Cup (and won this one). Procter & Gamble is the first sponsor of the team to have issued such a bold statement, but others have expressed sympathy.

In May, Visa announced a new affiliation to the US Soccer Federation, including giving "at least 50%" of its investment to the women's team and related programs. Forbes reported at the time. And nutritional bar producer Luna Bar has promised to give each of the US Football World Cup players an additional $ 31,250 to make up the difference in men's team bonuses. Team co-captain Megan Rapinoe pleaded Sunday for increased support from Meet the press"These powerful companies … have so much weight that they can get rid of," she said. "And I think they just need to get started with the pitch." (The battle for equal pay has led to new national legislation and proposed federal legislation.)