Three players have left Argentina Women’s camp in protest over pay disputes and poor conditions, announcing their departures from the team on social media. 

Julieta Cruz, Laurina Oliveros and Lorena Benítez – all key players for La Albiceleste – quit the team ahead of two friendlies against Costa Rica, stating the less than satisfactory conditions and treatment from the AFA as the main reason behind their protest.

In an Instagram post, Cruz said: “We reached a point in which we are tired of the injustices, of not being valued, not being heard and, even worse, being humiliated. We need improvements for Argentina's women's soccer national team, and I am not only talking about finances. I speak about training, having lunch, breakfast.” 

In the same post, the Boca Juniors star said she might not continue playing for the national team, with the stark disparity in treatment of the women’s team compared to the men’s clear to see in her statement. Unfortunately, this boycott is not uncommon in the women’s game, with multiple players and teams protesting against unfair treatment, unpaid bonuses and other poor administration from their federations that would be unheard of for their male counterparts.

Most notably, Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz called for systemic change in the JFF before their historic Women’s World Cup run in 2023, eventually boycotting the team when those simple needs – payment, stable transportation, accommodation, good communication and other bare minimum demands for a national team of their calibre – were unmet. 

Women’s football is growing at an astronomical rate, but poor conditions that lead to protests like this one are still the reality for many national and club teams around the world. Change is still desperately needed to end the gender inequity that has resulted in the way La Albiceleste, the Reggae Girlz and others throughout history have been treated.

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