The captain of the Scottish women's football team, Rachel Corsie, has withdrawn her inequality case against the Scottish Football Association (SFA) on the day the hearing

was scheduled to commence.

Corsie had accused the governing body of treating women unfairly regarding pay and conditions and was set to represent her national team colleagues in the case.

However, the SFA issued a statement stating that the matter has now been resolved without the need for tribunal proceedings.

The case revolved around allegations of inequality in areas such as facilities, travel, and pay compared to the men's team.

The SFA's statement expressed satisfaction with the resolution but did not provide further details about the agreement.

The legal action was initiated in December, with the tribunal initially planned for this week.

Corsie, an Aston Villa defender, commented, "As captain, I believe we have a responsibility to push for the highest standards on and off the field. The Scottish FA has made significant inroads in this regard, and together we are on an evolutionary journey. We are proud to have parity, not just for the current generation but more significantly for future generations of players."

Corsie had previously criticized the resources provided to the women's team, stating that they were not on par with other club environments and national teams.

Last December, two of Corsie's Scotland teammates also voiced their support for the legal action, citing years of feeling like an afterthought and a lack of sponsorship deals for women's football.

The US women's national team secured a landmark equality case last year, resulting in a payout of over £17 million.

Ian Maxwell, the SFA's chief executive, emphasized that the growth of women's football is a top strategic priority for the association. He stated, "We have reiterated our commitment to equality—specifically with regard to commercial appearances, prize money distribution, and resources. We must now look forward with a shared goal: to return to major tournaments; working together to bring success on the field that will in turn encourage broadcasters and rights holders to do more to bridge the value gap that remains the biggest obstacle on the journey to equality within the women's game globally."

Analysis Box by Chris McLaughlin, Sports News Correspondent:

The joint statement from the SFA, the players union, and the players themselves aims to end a period of toxicity surrounding the treatment of Scotland's women footballers. However, it leaves more questions than answers.

The specifics of the players' demands were never revealed due to legal sensitivities, and it appears that these details will remain undisclosed even after a resolution has been reached.

Did the SFA concede on some points? Did the players accept the deal that had been on the table for over a year? If the SFA didn't give ground, what significant progress was made in the hours leading to the resolution?

Neither side seems eager to provide further details despite being asked to clarify. Rachel Corsie initially spoke about taking the fight to tribunal due to "years of inequity, disrespect, and in some cases, abuse."

While complete parity with their male counterparts has been achieved, how this was accomplished remains a secret for now. Photo by Anders Henrikson, Wikimedia commons.