A Los Angeles federal judge has granted preliminary approval for a $24 million pay discrimination settlement in favour of the US women’s national World Cup-winning football team.
CBS News is reporting that the initial complaint was filed in 2016 by players who alleged that their male counterparts were being paid nearly four times more.
The lawsuit followed three years later.
Damages were sought under the federal Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Molly Levinson, the spokesperson for the players, tweeted: “We are pleased that the Court granted preliminary approval for the Historic Equal Pay Resolution today,” adding, “We look forward to celebrating this hard-fought victory for women and girls at the final hearing,” which is slated to take place in early December.
The US women’s soccer team won the 2019 FIFA World Cup by beating the Netherlands 2-0 in the final.
The women’s team is ranked number one by FIFA, while their male counterparts have been falling down the ranking and in March this year were 15th.