USA’s Rapinoe Says Equal Pay Talk Must Move Forward

Megan Rapinoe called for the conversation on equal pay to move forward after she helped USA to retain the World Cup.

“I think everyone is ready for this conversation to move to the next step,” she said after hearing an “equal pay” chant ring round after the final and the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, being booed. “I think we’re done with: ‘Are we worth it, should we have equal pay, is the market the same?’ Yada yada.

“Everyone’s done with that; fans are done with that, players are done with that. In a lot of ways I think sponsors are done with that. Let’s get to the next point. What’s next? How do we support women’s federations and women’s programmes around the world? What can Fifa do to do that? What can we do to support the leagues around the world?” she said, having rocked into the press conference late, exclaiming “I just killed doping!”

“We as players, every player at this World Cup, put on the most incredible show that you could ever ask for. We cannot do anything more to impress more, to be better ambassadors, to take on more, to play better or do anything. It’s time to take it forward to the next step. A little public shame never hurt anybody, right? I’m down with the boos.”

The USA manager, Jill Ellis, paid tribute to her Golden Boot and Golden Ball winger and defended her outspoken ways.