Football Federation Australia and Professional Footballers Australia remain at loggerheads over the new collective bargaining agreement, just one day before the current one expires.
Head of the A-League Damien de Bohun has bristled at suggestions by PFA president and current Socceroo Matt McKay that FFA is trying to freeze the A-League salary cap and hit back at the accusations levelled against the body in a strongly worded statement on Monday.
“Over the life of the A-League, the salary cap has increased by an average of more than 7 per cent each year, and there is scope for a further 12 per cent uplift next season,” said de Bohun.
“It’s not just about the salaries, as the CBA proposal provides greater flexibility for clubs in retaining players and invests in players’ well-being.
“Any suggestion that there has been, or will be, a salary freeze is simply not accurate.
“Over the past three years A-League players have received a 13 per cent increase in total payments, while at the same time most clubs have continued to run operating deficits and also invest heavily in upgraded facilities, youth development programs, and improving conditions for players.”
The response came after McKay on Friday slammed FFA, the A-League and the clubs over their resistance to acquiesce to the PFA’s salary requests.
At the crux of the matter seems to be the PFA’s desire to see regular squad players get better and more stable financial deals from their contracts in the rapidly improving league.
On Friday McKay accused that FFA of taking away from players at a time when they should be getting more, indicating player demands must be met if the new CBA was to be signed off on.
“FFA’s insistence on freezing the cap and making cuts to the pay of the Socceroos comes at a time when the game is generating record revenue and follows four years of wage restraint,” McKay said in a statement.
“It will simply see player pay fall below what the game can afford which, in turn, will undermine the competitiveness of Australian football and the attractiveness of the A-League.
“At the heart of the negotiations is a simple requirement that the players receive a fair and equitable share of the revenue generated by the professional game, which must be contractually provided for in the new CBA.”
PFA declined to comment on the statement issued by Football Federation Australia on Monday evening.
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