"Although I have been one of the biggest supporters of an equal system in the environment linked to match performance, for our women's national team, unfortunately I will no longer be the head of the federation when this happens," Bontis explained.

“I recognize that the current context requires change. The federation and our national team programs are in the process of signing a historic collective agreement," Bontis added without giving details, promising an "iconic agreement that will set Canada apart from almost all other FIFA members."

Earlier on Monday (27/2), the 13 provincial federations had sent a letter calling on Bontis to resign, according to sports television channel TSN.

In early February, Canada's women's soccer team went on a one-day strike to protest gender inequities and a lack of funding, an approach supported by Canada's men's team.

The move was put on hold by the federation's threat of legal action against her, and the reigning Olympians then played the SheBelieves Cup in Florida, a friendly warm-up tournament for this summer's Women's World Cup.

According to the team's iconic captain, Christine Sinclair, in 2021 the Federation awarded more than C$11 million (just over €7 million) to the men's team, compared to about C$5 million to the women's team, while the previous year, the expenses spent by the federation were almost the same. Just over $3 million for men and $2.8 million for women.