Three players left the Argentina women’s team after a dispute over pay and conditions

BUENOS AIRES – Three players left the Argentina women’s team on Monday following a dispute over lack of pay and conditions at a camp ahead of two international friendlies, an unthinkable scenario for the country’s World Cup-winning men’s team.

Goalkeeper Laurina Oliveiros, defender Julieta Cruz and midfielder Lorena Benítez, regular starters for the national team, announced their transfers at the start of squad adjustments for the friendlies against Costa Rica on Friday and June 3.

“We have reached a point where we are tired of injustices, of not being valued, of not being heard and, even worse, of being humiliated,” Cruz posted on Instagram. “We need improvements for the Argentine women’s football team and I’m not just talking about finances. I talk about training, lunch, breakfast.”

Cruz and Benítez stated that during the team’s training sessions they received a ham and cheese sandwich and a banana, which they consider inappropriate for high-performance athletes.

They said the Argentine football association told them they would not be paid for the two friendlies because the games would be held at home in Buenos Aires.

Benitez added that in addition to the players not paying, their families would be charged 5,000 pesos ($5) for tickets to enter the stadium.

“And there are millions of things we go through,” added the midfielder.

Goalkeeper Oliveros published several photos of her wearing the Argentina shirt on Instagram.

“With a broken heart and thousands of dreams slowly disappearing. May the next generations enjoy and be happy chasing the , as we were some time ago,” she said.

The Argentine football association did not comment on the players’ decision.

Estefanía Banini, considered the country’s best player of all time, gave support to her three former teammates. Last year, she also decided to stop playing for the national team.

“It’s a matter of time. Thank you for being willing to talk about this”, said the Atlético de Madrid midfielder on her social networks.

The Argentine professional women’s football championship began just five years ago, but players consider the overall improvement to be very small.

Argentina’s women’s teams often struggle in South American competitions against rivals from Colombia and Brazil, which will host the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

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