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Postecoglou butts out of PFA-FFA pay stoush

Ange Postecoglou (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)
2nd September, 2015
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Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou has retracted the comments he made to the media yesterday about the Collective Bargaining Agreement being negotiated by Football Federation Australia and Professional Footballers Australia.

The pay battle between the two bodies has escalated in the last few days, with Socceroos pulling out of scheduled fan appearances in Perth.

The collective bargaining agreement has expired and the memorandum of understanding between the two parties has been cancelled.

Postecoglou didn’t mince his words yesterday when asked about the tensions, saying it was affecting the squad.

“I’m not happy it’s getting played out in Socceroo camp,” Postecoglou said.

“I don’t have the players often and when I have them, that time’s precious. I don’t want any minute wasted.

“If we think it’s okay during the World Cup qualifiers to play out this scenario then I’m out of whack with everyone else because I think while the camp is on… lay down your guns and pick them up as soon as it’s over, and go as hard as you want.

“It’s not good enough.”

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The two bodies are currently negotiating a new deal that will see the players pay agreements locked in.

Today, Postcoglou said in a release he wanted to retract his comments after realising they were inappropriate.

He has put the PFA squarely in focus in his retraction.

“As a senior employee of Football Federation Australia I understand that my comments were inappropriate,” Postecoglou said.

“I appreciate that I need to take sides on this issue. The commercial performance of the Socceroos brand directly affects the amount of investment in the match schedule, technical developments and sports science staff.

“In this case, the commercial boycotts imposed by Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) will directly affect commercial partners and will inevitably hurt the Socceroos program.

“I made comments yesterday out of frustration. I acknowledge that the PFA initiated the regrettable situation that has distracted us in Perth. I understand that FFA was compelled to respond in order to explain its position to the game’s stakeholders.

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“I call on the PFA to undertake that no future Socceroo camp will be targeted in this way.”

This is in rather stark contrast to what he said yesterday.

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