Lion Links: 4/1/16

Happy Friday, Mane Landers! It’s not only Friday, but it’s a match day for Orlando City B over in Melbourne at the Titan Soccer Complex. As long as he’s not kidnapped by pirates, our own Sean Rollins will be at the OCB-Charleston Battery match to bring you all the important information you need. But why not go to the match and enjoy it in person? They’d love to have you.

Before we roll into the links, I'd personally like to thank our departing social media manager, Kyle Foley, for more than a year of service. Kyle was sort of our utility infielder, writing some Lion Links, picking up occasional stories, and making sure our posts made it into our social media channels. We wish him the best as he embarks on the next chapter of his life.

Oh, and beware of anything that sounds out of the ordinary or unbelievable. It's April Fool's Day, and some people can't resist. But I can. These Lion Links are 100% legit.

Now…about those aforementioned Links…

Redding Getting Noticed

He’s only 19 years old, but Tommy Redding is opening eyes in Major League Soccer. Thomas Floyd profiled the young Orlando City center back for goal.com. Redding told Floyd,

"Going into preseason, I was not really thinking about winning the starting spot but just playing the best soccer that I can and working as hard as I can," Redding told Goal USA. "Hopefully with that comes the rewards."

While Floyd mentions that Redding won the starting job out of preseason, an injury to David Mateos forced the Homegrown Player into the lineup. But, to his credit, Redding has delivered through the first three games, particularly in helping shut down David Villa at Yankee Stadium two weeks ago.

Laryea Loaned to OCB

With an already crowded midfield getting even more jammed up with Kaká set to return, Orlando City has loaned No. 1 SuperDraft pick Richie Laryea to USL side Orlando City B for tonight's match-up with the Charleston Battery. The Lions would have loved to have gotten young players valuable game minutes like this a year ago but injuries and having an affiliate way up in Louisville conspired to keep that from happening. Laryea will join the reserves tonight looking to grab the fledgling USL side its first victory.

Oh, and spoiler alert, we'll have an exclusive interview with Laryea on this week's Mane Land PawedCast which drops at 11:30 a.m. today — just in time for you to listen during your lunch break.

USWNT Fights for Fair Treatment

Orlando Pride striker Alex Morgan is one of five prominent players to file a complaint with the U.S. Soccer Federation, demanding equal pay to what the U.S. men get, as well as equal treatment, such as training conditions and getting to play on grass fields instead of artificial turf. Morgan went on the Today show yesterday along with Hope Solo, Carli Lloyd and Becky Sauerbrunn. Those four, along with Megan Rapinoe, filed the complaint. While men’s soccer continues to be far more popular than the women’s game in terms of television viewers and ticket sales, the women are entitled to much better treatment than they’ve received.

Speaking of the USWNT, there might be a problem with the two upcoming friendlies against Colombia.

We'll keep an eye on this story to see if anything develops further from it.

Amnesty International Report Details Qatar Worker Abuse

We’ve been hearing for quite awhile about worker conditions for workers in Qatar in preparation for the 2022 World Cup. Amnesty International filed a 52-page report detailing worker mistreatment directly linked to a future World Cup venue.

All of those interviewed reported some kind of abuse, including squalid or crowded living quarters, salary payments being withheld for months, and measures including passport confiscation that make it difficult to leave the country. Migrant workers elsewhere in Qatar have reported similar problems previously.

Many in the Amnesty report said their sponsoring employer failed to obtain or renew their working permits, leaving the workers subject to fines and detention.

Each reported going into debt to pay recruitment fees – illegal under Qatari law – ranging from $500 to $4,300 to secure work. Most discovered on arrival that they would be paid less than promised by recruiters back home. Some of those interviewed reported earning basic salaries of well below $200 a month, plus allowances of around $50 a month for food.

I don't know about you but I've heard just about enough. Qatar needs to lose the World Cup and should never have been awarded the event in the first place.

Phil Rawlins Says You Can Be Late Monday

Considering not going to Sunday night’s battle with the Portland Timbers because you have to work Monday morning? Not to worry. Orlando City Founder and President Phil Rawlins says you can be late to work. We’re pretty sure his note to your boss is legally binding.

That's it for today, Lion Nation. Get out to Melbourne tonight and cheer on OCB. We'll see you at the Citrus Bowl on Sunday.