Judge rules against US women's soccer team in equal pay case

The stars of the US women's soccer team have been dealt a crushing legal defeat in their bid for equal pay [COURTESY]

A federal judge dismissed the United States women's soccer team's bid for equal pay on Friday, rejecting claims the players had been underpaid in a crushing defeat for the reigning world champions.

In a 32-page ruling, Judge Gary Klausner of the US District Court for Central California in Los Angeles tossed the women's claim of pay discrimination, ruling in favour of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF).