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Will the PFA be looked after by the FFA?

Roar Guru
30th April, 2013
20

As of today, the Professional Footballers’ Association no longer has a Collective Bargaining Agreement with Football Federation Australia.

With the next season only five months away and negotiations starting today, the timeline for negotiating a new CBA is tight.

With the existing broadcast rights deal for the A-League set to expire on June 2013 and the new broadcast rights deal with Fox Sports and SBS set to take over, a clear view has been provided as to the revenue that will be pumped into football over the course of the next four years.

On November 1st 2012, the new Collective Bargaining Agreement was to be concluded as the contract ‘window’ would open for the 2013/14 season. Unfortunately, this would not be the case due to numerous issues that require resolving.

“Accordingly, players and clubs in the A-League when developing their contracts must have a clear idea of the quantum of money within the league, in order that negotiations between players and clubs, as well as the capacity of clubs to develop their lists, are not restricted,” said the PFA.

“This means that the FFA must commence and conclude negotiations concerning a new CBA as a matter of urgency.

“A failure to do so will place significant risk on clubs and the A-League that contracts for the coming seasons will not be completed consistent with the full employment standards which apply in the A-League.”

Confirmation as to whether or not the Collective Bargaining Agreement will commence today is yet to be determined as the A-League Collective Bargaining Facts Book indicates that the FFA and PFA were to begin negotiations in June of 2012.

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Doing a bit of research it is quite clear there are numerous problems facing both parties.

In December 2012, Archie Thompson blasted the FFA over a pitched $2500-a-game fee for players participation in the East Asia Cup, whilst the Professional Footballers’ Association was after $3250, or half the $6500 agreed under the terms of the CBA.

Though, on the other hand, as reported by FourFourTwo’s Kathy Stone, “The Federal Government’s Smith Review – endorsed by the FFA – suggested footballers were overpaid and called for a reduction or freezing of the salary cap which is set at $2.5 million per club. FFA chairman Frank Lowy has already said there will be no increase.”

After such a successful season in terms of attendance, viewing, memberships, merchandise and social media usage, the players would surely be entitled to an increase in pay, or at least contractual security?

Now before the players receive a blasting or are branded to selfish and greedy, the players have continuously stood up for the game whilst agreeing to have caps placed on their wages to financially assist clubs to ensure a high degree of competitive balance can be maintained on the field.

The PFA have not even made an issue as of yet about whether or not a pay increase will occur – the PFA simply want player contracts to be honoured.

Despite the short history of the A-League, over 70 players have lost or risk losing over $2.5 million as a result of changes in club ownership or the loss of a license.

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They believe the rights of players in Australia are under threat in six areas. These are:

1. Protection if you are injured
2. Contract security
3. Investment in PFA player development and well being programs
4. The CBA grievance procedure
5. A-League player payments
6. CBA implementation

These issues must be addressed if:

. World-class Socceroos are to continue to return to Australia to play in the A-League;
. The A-League is going to be an attractive career choice for Australian players;
. The A-League is to continue to attract top quality foreign professionals; and
. The A-League is to retain longer our next generation of developing professionals; future Socceroos.

It seems very clear the numerous issues that surround the CBA require a fair amount of diligence, patience and commitment to ensuring the Professional Footballers’ Association are satisfied and the players receive a “fair and equitable share” of the games revenue.

The matter of player payments is something the PFA clearly don’t mess around with.

With circumstances reminiscent to when in August 2011, players in Divisions 1 and 2 in Spain went on strike due to contractual issues, is there a chance we could be heading for the same fate?

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Will the Collective Bargaining Agreement be reached before the commencement of the 2013-14 season? Can the FFA afford to fork out $100,000,000 in the form of a salary cap and possibly more?

Hopefully this matter can remain minor and behind closed doors to ensure the A-League continues the positive trends it has witnessed for the 2012-13 season.

Whatever is to eventuate, the players need to be accommodated for whilst ensuring the best intentions of the game are adhered to.

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