VOA慢速英语2019 顶级女足运动员将美国足球告上法庭（在线收听）

Top Women’s Soccer Players Take US Soccer to Court

All 28 members of the World Cup champion U.S. women’s national soccer team have taken legal action against the United States Soccer Federation. They claim the organization pays them less than male players and denies them equal training, travel and playing conditions.

世界杯冠军队伍美国女足的所有28名队员将美国足协告上了法庭。她们声称该组织向她们支付的薪酬低于男球员，并且拒绝给她们提供平等的训练、出行和比赛条件。

The women filed their lawsuit in Los Angeles on Friday, which was International Women’s Day. The case claims gender-based discrimination by the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF).

这些女球员周五在洛杉矶提起了诉讼，这天是国际妇女节。该案件声称美国足协性别歧视。

In most of the world, the sport is called football.

在世界上大多数地方，这项运动被称之为足球（其它地方称为football，美国称为soccer。）。

The action comes just three months before the American women will defend their title at the Women’s World Cup in France.

此举发生在美国即将参加法国女足世界杯争取卫冕的三个月之前。

The players say they have faced ongoing “institutionalized gender discrimination” including unequal pay. The women also say they have the same responsibilities as players on the U.S. men’s national team. They are seeking equal pay and treatment, along with payment for lost earnings over the years.

球员们表示，她们面临着持续的“制度化性别歧视”，其中包括薪酬不平等。这些女球员还表示，她们跟美国男足承担了同样的责任。她们正在寻求获得同等的报酬和待遇，以及多年来的收入损失。

The U.S. Women’s National Team Players Association was not part of the lawsuit. However, its representatives said in a statement that the association “supports the plaintiffs’ goal of eliminating gender-based discrimination by USSF.”

美国女子国家队球员协会并非这起案件的当事人。然而，该协会代表在一份声明中表示，该协会“支持原告希望消除美国足协性别歧视的目标。”

Alex Morgan, a member of the women’s team, said in a prepared statement, “Each of us is extremely proud to wear the United States jersey, and we also take seriously the responsibility that comes with that. We believe that fighting for gender equality in sports is a part of that responsibility.”

女足队员亚历克斯·摩根（Alex Morgan）在一份预先准备好的声明中表示：“我们每个人都以穿上美国队球衣为荣，我们也认真对待随之而来的这份责任。我们认为争取体育行业的性别平等也是这份责任的一部分。”

The U.S. Soccer Federation did not immediately comment on Friday.

美国足协周五并没有立即做出回应。

When the team The U.S. women’s soccer team has seen great international successes, including three World Cup championships and four Olympic gold medals.

美国女足在国际上获得了巨大成功，包括获得3次世界杯冠军和4枚奥运金牌。

When the team won its most recent World Cup title in 2015, it was the most-watched soccer game in American television history.

这支球队于2015年最近一次赢得世界杯冠军，当时的那场决赛是美国电视史上最受瞩目的足球赛。

I'm Ashley Thompson.

Words in This Story

lawsuit - n. a process by which a court of law makes a decision to end a disagreement between people or organizations

gender - n. the state of being male or female

title - n. the status or position of being the champion in a sport or other competition

plaintiff - n. a person who sues another person or accuses another person of a crime in a court of law

eliminate - v. to remove (something that is not wanted or needed) : to get rid of (something)

proud - adj. very happy and pleased because of something you have done, something you own, someone you know or are related to, etc. :feeling pride

jersey - n. a loose shirt worn by a member of a sports team as part of a uniform