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Uruguay players agree to call off protest prior to Copa America Femenina
- Uruguayan player union MUFP agree with Uruguayan Football Association on improvements to the working conditions of women's national team players
- The players had refused to train as a form of protest, putting their participation in the 2025 Copa America Femenina in Ecuador at risk
- “Both parties were satisfied with the agreements reached,” said MUFP Secretary General Mitchell Duarte
After intense negotiations, Uruguayan player union MUFP reached an agreement on Tuesday with the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) in response to demands made by members of the women's national team prior to their participation in the 2025 Copa America Femenina in Ecuador.
The players, who will make their debut in the tournament on Friday against the host team, had decided on Saturday not to train in protest for better working conditions, demands that they had previously raised with the AUF but which had not been heard.
In an Instagram post, the international players announced their protest: “We are not training today because we have still not received a favourable response to our demands for improved conditions. This measure is not against our passion, but for a fair right. We want to represent Uruguay in the Copa America, but we also deserve dignified treatment for our effort and dedication.”
As a result, the trip to Quito to participate in the tournament was in doubt.
The players' demands included, among other things, full use of the men's national team training centre, known as the Complejo Celeste, better training conditions and equipment, adequate training conditions, and an increase in daily allowances for national and international commitments.
MUFP led the talks with the AUF in the days that followed to reach an agreement, which finally allowed the team to travel to Ecuador. The deal was made official by the players' union in a statement on Tuesday night in Uruguay.
MUFP General Secretary Mitchell Duarte told FIFPRO: "While there is still a lot of room for improvement, we are in a process of continuous improvement. There was a very good working relationship in this instance, and both parties were satisfied with the agreements reached.
"We understand that there is now a commitment to generate agreements similar to those being made by other national teams with other federations, seeking continuous improvement. This is the most important thing to come out of this instance, which was tough but strengthened everyone. There is a conviction that this is the way to continue growing and improving working conditions."